Foundation Degrees in British Telecom

Education Conference – Cairo

January 2010

Mark Biffin

Apprenticeship Portfolio Development Manager

© British Telecommunications plc

Why invest in Foundation Degrees?

• BT’s rationale behind FD investment

• Benefits to the individual learner

• Benefits to the employer

• What’s involved.

• Who we work with

© British Telecommunications plc

Rationale behind FD investment

• Career Start has proven to be a successful method of bringing high

potential young people into BT

• The case for recruiting Higher Apprentices is based upon a sound

business case

• Our investment in our apprentices exceeds the requirements of the

framework guidelines in both learning and skills

• At BT we have been recruiting Higher Apprentices since 2006. The

first Graduates completed this year and 90% will be continuing to a

full honours top-up

© British Telecommunications plc

Benefits to the Individual learner

• Work-Based degree• Real Work experience• Able to offer a contribution that is relevant to Learning• Guaranteed job on completion of the scheme

• Earn while they learn

• Salary from £10, 499 - (16,700 USD) (11,694 Euro)

• Support through the apprenticeship and beyond

• Dynamic company

• Variety of work

• Recognised qualifications (up to honours degree)

• Pension, share options

© British Telecommunications plc

Benefits to the Employer

• Sound business model

• Opportunity to ‘Grow your Own’ Graduate

• Learners can apply learning direct to their role

• Positive contribution to the business

• The Learners understand your business

• Sound Foundation to future career path

• Continual assessment during training

© British Telecommunications plc

What’s Involved?Academic & Empirical Learning

Framework: Foundation Degree National Vocational Qualification Key Skills ERRAdditional: Top-Up to Honours Degree

Academic Life

Framework:No specific requirements

Additional:Local community projectsForeign exchange tripsProject workTA Leadership weekendsChallenge Worldwide eventsBT Volunteers scheme

Craft

Framework: Additional:Contact Centre Management RelatedEngineering Management dev, Customer Service Talent Pool & progressionICTTelecoms and Management

© British Telecommunications plc

Who we work with

• The UK Funding Councils (England Scotland & Wales)

• e-Skills UK (Sector Skills Council for I.T & Telecoms)

• The Institute of Telecommunications Professionals (ITP)

• Other Telco’s and I.T companies (ICTSAG)

• Consortium of Universities across the UK

Ensuring a common standard across the sector