Oxfordshire’s Large Apprenticeship Employer of the Year: How the University of Oxford is championing the ‘University of Life’

Pictured (L-R): Ellie Knight Apprentice Business Administrator at the University of Oxford who came Highly Commended in the Special Recognition category of this year’s Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards; Helen Johnson Senior Appointments and Apprenticeship Manager at the University of Oxford; and Emilia Reyes-PabonTechnician Scientist Apprentice and winner of both the Advanced Apprentice of the Year title – and the joint overall winner of the Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards 2021.

Ranked number one in the 2021 Times Higher Education World Rankings the University of Oxford is the world-renowned institution with a reputation synonymous with the very best an education can offer – to some of the world’s greatest minds.

As a truly world-class universityit is unlikely to come as a surprise to anyone that Oxford is leading the way through the skills opportunities it provides. However – perhaps more surprisingly – with over 14000 staff alongside the 22000 students the skills provision on offer at the University of Oxford spans far further than the traditional qualifications the iconic institution is so famous for.

An ever-increasing priority for the University of Oxford is its commitment to apprenticeships of which the university offers roles ranging from Accountancy to Project Managementto Lab Science – working with providers to offer courses ranging all the way from Level 2 (GCSE grade A*-C equivalent) to Level 7 (Master’s degree equivalent).

The university also contributes to the success of apprenticeship schemes in Oxfordshire through its distribution of unused levy fundshaving committed to the transfer of over £500000 to local businesses looking to take on apprentices.

With an apprenticeship strategy that aims to ‘recruit a talented and diverse apprenticeship workforce and to make our Apprenticeships accessible to people from all backgrounds’the University of Oxford was announced as the  ‘Large Apprenticeship Employer of the Year’ at the 2021 Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awardshaving demonstrated a clear commitment to offering the best possible training to its own workforce and the wider community.

With apprentice alumni including Teya Agnese – the Apprentice Clinical Trial Support Officer who was announced the overall ‘Apprentice of the Year’ at the 2020 Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards and then went on to co-host this year’s awards and Emilia Reyes Pabon – the Technician Scientist Apprentice at the Clinical BioManufacturing Facility (CBF) part of the University of Oxford’s Jenner Institute whom Teya handed her ‘Apprentice of the Year’ crown on to this year- a key priority of the university’s apprenticeship strategy is to spread the word on the importance of how successful apprenticeship opportunities can be.

This is reiterated further as the university’s Senior Appointments and Apprenticeship Manager Helen Johnson has just taken on the role of Chair of the Thames Valley Apprenticeship Ambassador Network (TVAAN)a community that highlights and promotes the value of apprenticeships by encouraging current and previous apprentices to share their own stories. 

Find out more about the Young Apprentice Ambassador Network 

Find out more about University of Oxford Apprenticeships

Find out more about all of the Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards 2021 winners

The Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards 2022 will be launching later on this year.