Guidance

Bid to supply Social Research Degree Apprenticeship Programme

The Government Social Research Profession (GSR) is designing an apprenticeship and seeks higher education institutions to provide the degree aspect.

Introducing the GSR Degree Apprenticeship Programme

The Government Social Research Profession (GSR) is excited to be designing an apprenticeship for Social Researchers in government, with the first apprentices starting in September/October 2024. We are now seeking a higher education institution to provide the undergraduate degree aspect of this level 6 apprenticeship, including End Point Assessment. This follows earlier consultations on the design of the scheme.

Apprentices will study for 4 years, with a range of central government departments and agencies providing apprenticeship placements through the programme – which will offer students a starting salary of about £23k in London and a minimum of £20k nationally. There are no tuition fees for this programme.

Can you provide the degree for this programme?

The GSR Degree Apprenticeship Programme is an important element in building diversity, capability and talent for the Social Research profession. It offers the opportunity to shape an exciting and important new Applied Social Research Degree, drawing from existing expertise and degree programmes to develop this.

We are looking for a supplier with the proven ability to effectively manage and administer a large degree apprenticeship programme that meets all regulatory requirements relevant to delivery of the programme.

Detailed requirements (to be finalised) are set out below:

  • support cohorts of around 30 new apprentices a year, starting in September/October 2024
  • attract candidates from a broad, diverse, talent pool – enabling us to recruit from parts of the community we do not reach through our graduate and direct entry recruitment
  • equip apprentices with the knowledge, skills and behaviours they will need to be effective, high-performing social researchers within the GSR
  • provide advice and guidance on compliance and emerging best practice in the delivery of degree apprenticeships
  • lead on all aspects of programme administration including production of learning materials, apprentice and line manager communications and academic and wellbeing support for students
  • manage and conduct End Point Assessment to test occupational competence, in line with this being an integrated undergraduate degree level apprenticeship, of which the supplier is the End Point Evaluation Organisation.

How to apply

If you are interested in tendering for this programme, you will need to:

  1. Register on the Apprenticeship Training Dynamic Marketplace (DMP). For further information on the DMP, please register with the Apprenticeship Training Dynamic Marketplace and get in touch with us at GESR.enquiries@hmtreasury.gov.uk so we can let you know when our bid pack goes live.
  2. Register as an apprenticeship training provider: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/register-of-apprenticeship-training-providers
  3. Register as an end-point assessment organisation: Register of end-point assessment organisations - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Contact us

If you require any further details about the programme, please contact GESR.enquiries@hmtreasury.gov.uk

Published 12 July 2023
Last updated 13 July 2023 + show all updates
  1. Link added to register as an apprenticeship training provider.

  2. First published.