BA Early Learning and Childcare (Graduate Apprenticeship): Information for Employers

Queen Margaret University is currently developing a Graduate Apprenticeship in Early Learning and Childcare in partnership with local authority and independent early years educators.

The Graduate Apprenticeship is a successful learning programme where employees can build a rewarding career caring for children, learning in a real-world environment, and earning a wage. For employers, it is an opportunity for recruitment and staff development.

The Graduate Apprenticeship has been designed with the needs of our industry in mind, so we've complete confidence that the learning they get at university is relevant and will enable them to contribute to our success now and in the future.

GA employer (Source: Skills Development Scotland)

The learning costs are fully funded by the Scottish Government through the Scottish Funding Council and SAAS.

Queen Margaret University proposes to offer a BA Early Learning and Childcare (Graduate Apprenticeship) from September 2026. We are currently consulting with early years educators and care providers in South and East Scotland.

The aims of the consultation are to:

assess the local demand for degree-level learning in the early years education sector;
consider a delivery and structure for the proposed degree to best meet sector needs;
consult on course content;
expand existing networks of early years organisations, business, and educators in Scotland; and
ensure that local employers have confidence that employees undertaking this degree can directly contribute to the success of their organisation or business.

To find out more, contact ILO@qmu.ac.uk.

Queen Margaret University is partnered with Skills Development Scotland in the development and delivery of our BA Early Learning and Childcare (Graduate Apprenticeship) programme. More information and employer resources are available from Skills Development Scotland.

The first stage of our consultation took place in November 2024. The outcome allowed us to secure qualified approval in January 2025 to continue the development process.

Stage 2 of the consultation launches in April 2025 when more detailed discussions will be held around the proposed structure and content of the new degree.

We welcome all voices from the early years education sector during this consultation. If you would like to participate, please contact ILO@qmu.ac.uk.

The first stage of our consultation will take place in November 2024 with participants asked to complete a short questionnaire. We anticipate this will take no longer than 10 minutes. We are inviting participation from local authority and private nursery employers in south and east Scotland as well as individual early years practitioners.

You can then choose to continue our conversation in 2025 to help us develop the learning programme.

Completed over three years, the Graduate Apprenticeship allows students to work, earn and learn whilst studying for a degree-level qualification (BA, SCQF level 9). It is a practical and integrated way for practitioners to launch a new career or develop expertise with their current employer.

Employers will benefit too as the Graduate Apprenticeship programme is an innovative, cost-effective way to attract and retain highly skilled, motivated, and ambitious employees.

What are the key benefits to employers?

Graduate Apprenticeships can add skills and strengths to organisations or businesses with ambition, whatever their size.

Save on training costs: There are no fees for employers participating in the Graduate Apprenticeship programme. All employers are expected to maintain the employee’s full contracted salary.
Hire new employees or encourage existing staff to thrive: The Graduate Apprenticeship programme allows you to spot talented, motivated employees who would like to learn and have potential for development. GAs can also be used to help recruit staff and attract new talent into the business.
Increased Productivity & Innovation: Apprentices at Queen Margaret University learn in an environment of innovation. They benefit from our commitment to enhance key professional skills as well as graduate attributes such as resilience and adaptability, creative problem solving, collaborative teamwork and effective communication.
Meet current and future business needs: Graduate Apprentices work on real projects with your team, bringing innovative ideas to those tasks whilst also allowing mentors to build skills in developing others.

Do Graduate Apprenticeships cost employers?

Employers do not pay fees for your Apprentice’s training and education.

The Apprentice may be required to attend occasional events on campus and regular classes online during two academic terms per year. This is considered part of the Apprentice’s normal work, and you are expected to pay your Apprentice(s) full contracted wage.

Both work and learning experiences count towards the qualification.

Who can partner with QMU’s Graduate Apprenticeship programme?

Graduate Apprenticeships are open to employers of all sizes and sectors in Scotland, helping to build the skills your industry needs for the future.

What is expected of employers supporting a Graduate Apprentice?

Typically, you would be expected to:

meet the Academic team at QMU to agree the structure of the Graduate Apprentice programme and the work-based projects that you will support in your organisation or business;
attend two or three meetings with QMU and their Apprentice employee per year, normally on Teams; and
appoint a Mentor to support the Apprentice through their studies and to contribute to developing the training and assessment elements, in collaboration with the Academic team at QMU.

To participate in the consultation or find out more about our proposed GA programme, please contact School of ASSaM Industry Liaison.

To participate in the consultation or find out more about our proposed GA programme, please contact School of ASSaM Industry Liaison, ILO@qmu.ac.uk.