Gloucestershire College, in partnership with the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol), has announced a new Level 6 Manufacturing Engineer Degree Apprenticeship to support talent development and upskilling across the sector.
Designed in collaboration with industry, this four-year programme is available from September 2026 and will equip apprentices with the skills, knowledge, and behaviours required to meet the growing demand for highly skilled engineers in advanced manufacturing. Successful apprentices will achieve a BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering with Manufacturing degree accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), combining academic study with workplace learning.
Mikela Lowthian, Head of Engineering at Gloucestershire College said: “We are proud of our strong partnership with UWE Bristol, through which we have been successfully delivering cyber security and engineering degree apprenticeships for several years. This new apprenticeship was developed in direct response to employer feedback, ensuring the curriculum not only meets the expectations of a degree-level programme but is also delivered to the highest standard. Just as importantly, we’ve designed the delivery model to minimise disruption for employers: apprentices will attend college for two days per week in their first year, reducing to just one day a week from Year 2 onwards. They will continue their training at UWE Bristol’s Frenchay campus in Years 3 and 4.”
Vincent Seow, Engineering Lecturer and HE Curriculum Lead at Gloucestershire College in charge of the apprenticeship delivery added: “This apprenticeship presents an exciting opportunity for aspiring engineers as well as those looking to progress their engineering career by gaining a university degree. Apprentices will gain expertise in areas such as manufacturing systems, process improvement, digital engineering, and sustainable production -applying their learning directly in the workplace from day one.”
Local employers had the opportunity to preview the new Manufacturing Engineer Degree Apprenticeship at an event hosted by Gloucestershire College in September, and the feedback on the course structure and delivery model has been very positive. Many highlighted the programme as an excellent opportunity for both the local area and their businesses. The partnership between Gloucestershire College and UWE Bristol helps ease the pressure on apprentices (as well as employers) as they adjust to a new company and degree-level study. With a well-structured curriculum, the programme enables apprentices to gain valuable hands-on experience while developing skills directly relevant to the workplace.
A cost-effective way to grow your own talent
Unlike Level 7 apprenticeships, which will be removed from government funding from January 2026, employers can still fully benefit from investing in a Level 6 programme. Levy-paying employers can use their apprenticeship levy to cover training costs, while non-levy paying organisations can access generous government funding that covers 95% of the fees. This makes the Manufacturing Engineer Degree Apprenticeship a highly cost-effective way to develop graduate-level talent within your business.
Next steps for employers
As many manufacturing and engineering companies are preparing for the September 2026 apprenticeship recruitment cycle, Gloucestershire College is excited to be able to introduce this programme to employers across Gloucestershire and neighbouring counties and looking forward to helping them to develop the highly skilled engineers their businesses need now and for the future.
Interested employers are encouraged to get in touch now to preview the course, discuss workforce planning, and secure places early.
In addition, Gloucestershire College will host its popular Apprenticeship Open Evening on Wednesday 25 February 2026 and employers looking to partner with the college, are invited to secure a free stand and showcase their company and apprenticeship opportunities to prospective apprentices.
Email: employer.training@gloscol.ac.uk
Call: 0345 155 2020
www.gloscol.ac.uk/employers
