Arden University has launched a line-up of five new apprenticeship programmes to support businesses looking to make the most of financial support available via the apprenticeship levy, following changes to government skills funding announced earlier this year.
The new programmes include Level 3 Apprenticeships in HR Support and Business Administration, a Level 4 Apprenticeship in Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability, and two Level 4 Project Manager Apprenticeships: one in Business, and one in Health & Care.
The courses are all available for applicants now, with the first intake planned for November 2026.
While the government’s skills review removed levy funding for some courses, there are still a wide range of apprenticeship programmes and training opportunities available for businesses under the scheme, including all of the new courses being launched by Arden University.
There are also new funding opportunities available for businesses, including an apprenticeship incentive of up to £2,000 for SMEs and non-levy paying employers for hiring eligible young apprentices, aged between 16 and 24. Meanwhile, the Youth Jobs Grant offers organisations £3,000 for every young person they hire.
This support enables businesses in a wide range of sectors to take on apprentices to build their future talent pipeline.
Addressing a variety of business needs
Arden University has designed the new apprenticeship programmes to tackle a wide range of business skills shortages:
The Level 3 HR Support Professional programme, Future People Professional, will provide learners with the tools and capabilities they need to deliver structured, confident practice across all areas of HR.
The Level 3 Business Administrator programme, Administration for Professional Practice, addresses the challenges of sub-optimal processes, communication and overloaded management to help businesses run more smoothly.
The Level 4 Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability Practitioner programme gives learners the tools and frameworks needed to address areas such as reporting pressures, lack of internal ownership and net zero ambitions, which are not yet translating into action.
The Level 4 Associate Project Manager programmes, Project Delivery and Improvement in Business and Project Delivery and Improvement in Health & Care, both transform learners into confident, reflective project professionals, who are capable of supporting projects to deliver impactful change.
Arden University continues to deliver tailored versions of its apprenticeship programmes, which are designed to meet the specific skills development needs of the health and care sector. The Project Delivery and Improvement in Health & Care is a great example of this, as it allows healthcare organisations to upskill their workforce and develop young talent through courses built around the sector’s unique requirements.
Steven Hurst, Director of Corporate Learning at Arden University, commented: “Changes to government funding for apprenticeships is driving many organisations, in all sectors, to reconsider their training needs and how they can continue to invest in future-ready talent.
“There’s still substantial funding available for many courses, including Levels 3 and 4 apprenticeships, so there are plenty of opportunities for businesses to continue developing their talent pipelines.
“Apprentices aren’t just loyal. They can be moulded to the individual culture of an organisation, helping to drive it forward.
“Our new courses have been specifically designed to meet evolving commercial and organisational needs, helping businesses to stay lean, responsive and profitable in the years to come.”
