Acorn And Cardiff Met Join Forces To Deliver Project Management Apprenticeship

Following the success of their Foundation Degree in Applied Professional Practice (FdA), Cardiff Metropolitan University and Acorn have joined forces again to introduce a Higher Apprenticeship in Project Management. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Designed to bolster key project management skills, the newly developed qualification is aimed at individuals working towards a more senior role in their organisation. The 12 month, work-based course will be primarily delivered by Acorn, with Cardiff Met’s School of Management providing the tutoring for the required technical knowledge element of the qualification. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Level 4 Diploma in Project Management is part of the Higher Apprenticeship and is suitable for individuals who manage projects or soon to be managing projects in any sector. It is fully funded and is completed in and around the workplace and suited to the learner’s and employer’s agreed schedule. The technical element is taught at the University by academics and is covered in 6 off the job sessions. These are delivered during the afternoon and early evening so that learners can benefit from minimum off the job disruption to their working day. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Sarah John, Acorn’s Commercial Director, said: “To date, 24 people from a variety of organisations including the NHS, Dyfed Powys Police and Tiger Cardiff Ltd have committed to the course which started in May.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“In line with everything Acorn and Cardiff Met offers, this course has been designed to provide value to both employers and employees; learners will achieve improved project planning skills, a nationally recognised qualification and great future career and promotion prospects, whilst employers will benefit from staff retention, a definitive return on investment and better commitment from their employees.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Fiona Argent, Manager for the Centre for Work Based Learning at Cardiff Met, added: “This is the first time we have co-delivered a Higher Apprenticeship as a University and it’s a great model which we hope we will be able to develop across the University. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Siân Rees, Associate Dean, Enterprise at Cardiff School of Management added, “Our partnership shows a real collaborative approach to delivery – utilising the experience from within a university and the flexibility and expertise a work-based learning provider can offer. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It also offers individuals a taster of university life and we hope that some will continue their studies to complete a Higher Education qualification at Cardiff Met.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The year-long programme has been specifically written by tutors and will see students return periodically to deliver presentations to a panel to report on their progress. Students who complete the programme will also have the option of studying for an additional 20 credits, enabling them to progress to join the second year of a degree programme. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Acorn operates from 37 branches across Wales, the South West, North West and South East of England, and has international offices in Australia and Ireland. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Acorn places up to 6,500 people into the workplace for around 1,200 different employers every week, UK-wide and internationally, and includes making some 1,200 permanent placements each year. The group also delivers training and apprenticeships for more than 1,000 individuals annually. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​