Bicycle Association and Anglia Ruskin University team up for cycle industry Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship
October 28, 2019
The Bicycle Association (BA) is partnering with Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) to develop a unique Business Management and Leadership degree for the cycle industry. The programme, which will form part of the Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship programme funded by the Government’s Apprenticeship Levy, will be aimed at businesses in the cycle industry seeking to recognise and develop their leadership talent.
Steve Garidis, Executive Director of the Bicycle Association, said:
“In an industry which the Bicycle Association is positioning with Government as being of national strategic importance, we need to recognise and develop high quality leadership and business management skills. The BA believes this degree level programme initiative is of real strategic value, and the enhanced skills it will deliver are exactly what is needed to grow the industry and make it more efficient and profitable. There will also be individual benefits to our member companies who take part: they’ll find it an effective means to attract, develop and retain talented managers and leaders.”
Vanessa Knowles, Director of Corporate Programmes at ARU said:
“Anglia Ruskin University is one of the largest providers of apprenticeship programmes in England and has a well established reputation for delivering the Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship tailored to specific industries. We’re excited to work with the Bicycle Association on a qualification we believe could help promote the bicycle industry as a destination career for its members. The programme can also develop valuable management and leadership knowledge and skills that can enhance professional expertise and competence.”
The programme will be developed and customised to the needs of participating businesses, with courses beginning as early as next year.
The course content will prioritise cycle-industry relevant business management skills, and participating business will help shape the content. This will be focused on live issues in the industry and the students’ own roles within their businesses. This is then reflected in the assessment, with students measured on their ability to improve the businesses which employ them, creating a direct link from course participation to employer success.
Organisations who have a wage bill in excess of £3m will be able to use the Apprenticeship Levy money to either partly or fully pay for the programme. Businesses are already paying the Government’s Apprenticeship Levy, from which this type of degree level apprenticeship is funded, even if they are not yet benefiting from the courses it supports.
Even for businesses with a smaller wage bill, these industry-specific courses are 95% Government subsidised, leaving only a small cost for the business itself to cover.
Students would need to be released for just a few days a month during the programme, which can be delivered over a two or three-year period, with start dates available throughout the year. Course delivery is flexible and ARU can deliver the programme at either the businesses’ own location (or if several companies contribute, the location could rotate between them) or ARU can host the programme at an agreed residential venue.
Course delivery is also tailored around business peaks and key industry dates, such as trade shows, to ensure minimal impact on employers.
To express an interest in taking part, or for further details, cycle industry businesses are invited to contact the Bicycle Association: