From physiotherapy to midwifery: how a university’s degree apprenticeships are widening participation

Dr Denise Baker and Prof Kathryn Mitchell of the University of Derby. Photograph: Emma Croman/The Guardian

With the NHS in the grip of a workforce crisis, fresh approaches to recruitment and education in healthcare have never been more critical.

In a system struggling to cope with ever-rising demand and challenges in filling vacancies, degree apprenticeships – where students work in salaried roles in their chosen discipline throughout their course and do not pay fees to study – have been heralded for their potential to boost entry through alternative routes.