Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship (CMDA) builds a diverse pipeline of future leaders #CMDABirthday

New analysis from the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) shows the Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship (CMDA) is boosting social mobility and helping to build a pipeline of talented and diverse managers and leaders.

The figures show that:

• with over 2,000 starts in 17/18, the CMDA remains one of the most popular degree apprenticeships;
• with more female apprentices (54%) than male, the CMDA is helping to build the pipeline of future female leaders and redress the imbalance in our boardrooms;
• with over a quarter of apprentices (27%) under 25, the CMDA is helping young people take their first steps into management; and
• with over 2 in 5 apprentices coming from the most deprived areas of the UK, the CMDA is a great example of how degree apprenticeships can widen participation and boost social mobility.

Speaking at an event in the House of Commons to mark three years since the CMDA was launched, CMI’s Head of Policy, Rob Wall said:

“The UK needs good managers and great leaders – now more than ever.”

“Today’s Chartered Manager degree apprentices are tomorrow’s senior civil servants, top business leaders and key influencers. If we are to equip all of our future managers with the skills to be confident, competent leaders than we need to accelerate investment in management development and in management apprenticeships.”   

“The latest analysis shows that the Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship is making a huge difference. Not only in delivering the management skills needed to help solve the UK’s productivity puzzle, but also in widening participation, increasing student choice and promoting social mobility. It is time to champion and celebrate the huge success story that is the Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship.”

Sir Gerry Berragan, Chief Executive of the Institute for Apprenticeships, said:

“I am supportive of management apprenticeships, where they are used to upskill people – and that includes existing employees as well as new joiners – to be able to perform effectively as they transition to the next level of occupation.  Because that is what will best serve the economy.

“When people ask about the future of the CMDA and degree apprenticeships, my view is that as long as they have the continued support of employers; remain relevant to the occupations they are focused on; and meet the quality criteria, I would see them continuing to be a key element of a broad apprenticeship offer.”

Greg Wade, Policy Manager, UniversitiesUK, said:

“Degree apprenticeships and Degree apprentices are fantastic – universities say this to me. We need learners that think like employees and employees that think like learners. Degree apprenticeships do this!

“The CMDA helps meet demand for managers and leaders, increases productivity, enables leaders to upskill, is a valuable route to enhancing diversity and it allows progression.”