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Apprentices from Â鶹ƵµÀ Leicester (DMU)’s Leicester Castle Business School marked a milestone in their careers as they collected their degrees on stage at the university’s graduation ceremonies.

The learners, from a range of different employers, have all combined their full-time jobs with academic study at DMU on the Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship, a three-year programme which is accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI).



DMU works in partnership with employers to provide degree apprenticeships that develop skills, knowledge and behaviours to succeed in their roles. Apprentices combine their day jobs with studying at undergraduate or postgraduate level, earning a wage while they learn. Employers pay the cost of their studies through the Government’s Apprenticeship Levy.  

“I have really enjoyed the course,” said Sarah Lavin, a manager with the NHS’s integrated care board. “I had been a manager for quite some time before I joined the programme and I wanted to have some formal training that I could apply to the workplace, and the apprenticeship has been the perfect combination.”



DMU has been working with fast food chain KFC since 2013 helping develop and equip managers of its busy restaurants and businesses.

Annabelle Casement, manager of KFC Wrexham, Stacey Birch, manager of KFC Pillsworth and Josh Dougliss, store manager in Wolverhampton, were among those graduating from the business.

“I think I didn’t realise how much I didn’t know about management when I started,” said Annabelle. “That leadership awareness has grown as the course has gone on and I’m much more confident now.”

Stacey became a manager in her first year with the company and joined the programme. She said: “For me, it’s been about getting more confident and knowing that people you are learning alongside with are all facing the same challenges. I’m now planning to go into the corporate social responsibility area as a result of what I have learned on the course.”



Josh said: “I’ve been able to put into action learning from the programme and it’s also helped my personal development as well. The networking side, being able to share with others on the course, has been so helpful.”

Felicity Williams, deputy programme leader for the CMDA, said she was very proud to see her learners graduate. She added: “Witnessing the learners realise their hard work and accomplishments was an absolute joy.  They have created a wonderful network of friendships across different industries and have taken their knowledge confidently back into their respective organisations.  Work based learning is incredibly empowering and these graduates example the true value of educators working in partnership with employers.”