HE Knowledge Hub – Series 4 – 2026 Higher & Degree Apprenticeships with Plymouth Marjon University
In this episode we’re delving into higher and degree level apprenticeships, and especially how they work at Plymouth Marjon University.
If you’ve ever wondered how you can earn a salary, get real-world experience, and gain a qualification at the same time— degree or higher level apprenticeships might be exactly what you’re looking for.
At Marjons, these programmes blend academic learning with real employment in areas like healthcare, youth work and many more subjects.
Episode Themes
-
- How apprenticeships blend academic study with real patient-facing work
- The role of supervisors, mentors and practice educators in clinical settings
- How workforce shortages are shaping new training models
- Progression from support roles to registered practice
- Why “earn-as-you-learn” routes expand access and diversify the workforce
Paul Horne — Senior Lecturer and Course Leader with extensive NHS experience, guiding apprentices in applied healthcare learning.
Paul brings a wide-angle perspective, explaining how higher and degree apprenticeships play an increasingly strategic role in strengthening the health and care workforce. He talks about how the pathway opens progression opportunities for healthcare support workers who may not otherwise access university, allowing them to earn a wage, develop clinical skills, and gain qualifications that unlock new roles and responsibilities — up to and including registered practice. Paul also reflects on broader system benefits, describing apprenticeships as a “grow-your-own workforce” solution for the NHS, helping employers retain talent, build staff loyalty, and support succession planning. His comments underscore how these programmes create not only skilled clinicians, but confident, motivated professionals committed to patient care and long-term careers in healthcare.
Rob Reynolds — Associate Lecturer, responsible for teaching and academic support within higher and degree apprenticeship programmes.
Rob focuses on the academic side of apprenticeship delivery at Marjon, breaking down how university teaching and clinical practice inform one another rather than existing in separate worlds. He discusses how programmes are designed in partnership with employers to ensure students gain the right skills at the right time, supporting both workforce demands and long-term personal development. Rob also shares the philosophy behind teaching working learners — helping students to build their critical thinking, reflect on complex cases encountered on placement, and use academic frameworks to make sense of what they experience in practice. His segment highlights how apprentices grow their professional identity, not just by completing modules but by integrating learning into everyday care.
Tracey Jones — Nursing Associate & Assistant Practitioner Lead, focusing on clinical support and workforce development.
Tracey shares a grounded insight into what it feels like for apprentices stepping into real clinical environments for the first time, reflecting on the emotional journey of learning on the ward — from nerves and imposter syndrome through to growing confidence and capability. She explains how apprentices benefit from structured support, and talks about the vital role that practice supervisors and assessors play in guiding learners day-to-day, helping them to link theory to real patient care. Tracey emphasises the value of reflective practice, safe spaces to ask questions, and the power of “learning by doing,” highlighting how apprentices become more resilient, more autonomous, and eventually trusted colleagues within the multidisciplinary healthcare team.
Higher Degree Apprentices at Plymouth Marjon University
In the closing segment of this episode of HE Knowledge Hub, we hear insightful interviews with nursing professionals and apprentices involved in the 2026 Higher and Degree Apprenticeships programme at Plymouth Marjon University. The conversation highlights real-world experiences from nurses navigating the transition into degree-level practice, the value of apprenticeship pathways in building clinical competence and confidence, and firsthand reflections on how combining academic learning with on-the-job healthcare experience is shaping the next generation of nursing talent. Listeners are given an authentic snapshot of what it takes to grow and succeed in today’s dynamic nursing workforce — from mastering core clinical skills to balancing work, study, and professional identity development.
Explore Apprenticeships & Nursing Pathways
Sound credits – https://www.bensound.com/