Energy & Utility Skills

A Foundation Degree is a higher education qualification which combines academic study with practical hands-on experience. Designed jointly by universities, colleges and employers, they are intended to equip people of all ages with the knowledge and skills relevant to their employment.

They are university-level qualifications and are equivalent to the first two years of an honours degree. A typical full-time Foundation Degree takes two years to complete, and this can count directly towards an Honours degree for those who want to continue with further study. Part-time courses may take longer.

Foundation Degrees usually involve learning in the workplace as well as at university or college and are available to people already in work, those wishing to embark on a career change of those who have recently completed level three qualifications (e.g. A levels, Advanced Apprenticeships etc).

Foundation Degrees can benefit employers by helping to:

• Reduce skills gaps and improving the skills of the workforce
• Improve productivity
• Drive your business forward with a more skilled, motivated workforce
• Retrain your existing staff
• Minimise staff turnover and recruitment costs
• Prepare your organisation for future challenges
• Provide a flexible qualification to fit the business cycle