University of Staffordshire secures new British Army contract as public sector training reach tops 10,000 professionals

It marks another milestone of public sector workforce training that has seen the University develop over 10,000 professionals since 2018.

The new contract, which will see a 6-year programme delivering Level 6 Leadership & Management apprenticeship training to upwards of 700 service personnel, represents a recommissioning of a relationship through which the University has delivered apprenticeship programmes in support of Army workforce development for the past five years.

The award reflects the Army’s confidence in the University’s ability to continue delivering high-quality provision aligned to the needs of Army personnel and the wider organisation.

Over the course of the five-year relationship, the University has worked closely with Army stakeholders to ensure its programmes remain relevant, engaging and aligned to operational and strategic objectives. Throughout, the University has demonstrated a flexible and responsive approach to delivery, adapting provision to meet the needs of both individual Army learners and the wider organisation – an approach that has contributed to consistently positive outcomes across the programmes delivered.

The new contract confirms the continuation of that partnership, with both parties looking to build on the success of the last five years and extend the University’s role in supporting the ongoing development of Army personnel.

The Army contract is the latest chapter in a decade of public sector workforce development that has seen the University work with 77 public sector employer partners across defence, policing, the NHS and local government.

Since 2018/19 the University has delivered 4,721 apprenticeship starts and a further 5,359 undergraduate and postgraduate places for Ministry of Defence personnel, generating circa £101 million in public sector apprenticeship revenue.

Employer partners include 46 NHS Trusts, four police forces, eight local authorities across the Midlands and North West, the National Crime Agency, the Met Office and the UK Health Security Agency – with learners drawn from every region of the UK.

The University’s apprenticeship provision was inspected by Ofsted in February 2026, securing ‘strong’ ratings for Curriculum and Teaching and for Participation and Development. Its Qualification Achievement Rate – the proportion of enrolled apprentices who successfully complete their programme – stood at 72.4% in 2024-25, outperforming the national average of 65.4% and exceeding the Government target of 67%.

Professor Philip Plowden, Interim Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive, University of Staffordshire, said: “Public services depend on skilled, confident, highly trained people and universities have a responsibility to help develop them.

“At Staffordshire, our commitment to public sector workforce development is not peripheral to what we do; it is central to our mission. These figures reflect a decade of genuine partnership with employers who trust us to deliver, and to keep delivering.

“The recommissioning of our British Army contract is a mark of that trust, and we are proud of everything that has been built over the past five years. There is much more to do, and we look forward to the next chapter.”

Lisa Davies, Head of Business Engagement, University of Staffordshire, added: “What these numbers tell you is that public sector employers keep coming back. That doesn’t happen by accident – it happens because we invest in understanding what our partners actually need, and because our teams deliver against that, consistently, year after year.

“The British Army relationship is a great example: five years of working closely together, building mutual understanding and trust, and now a further contract that allows us to continue that work. I’m enormously proud of what the team has achieved, and of the difference our programmes make to the people who go through them.”

The breadth and longevity of the University’s public sector partnerships is reflected in the feedback from employer partners across the country.

Samantha Springett, Apprenticeships Contracts Manager, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, said: “University of Staffordshire has been a highly valued partner, consistently demonstrating a proactive, flexible, and collaborative approach. I would have no hesitation in recommending the university as an apprenticeship provider. They are a professional, responsive, and trusted partner that consistently delivers high-quality apprenticeship programmes.”

Elaine Bradbury, Workforce Development Lead at East Cheshire NHS Trust, said the University “takes the time to explore options with us as an employer, ensuring they understand our needs and requirements”, adding that the Trust had progressively widened its apprenticeship offer with the University to include Operating Department Practitioner, AI Specialist, Student Nurse Associate and Chartered Manager programmes.

Jessica Stockley, Apprenticeship Hub Account Manager at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, described the University as “a valued partner in supporting the development of our workforce across a wide range of programmes”, praising its commitment to partnership working and the quality of the learner experience.

The University of Staffordshire celebrated its tenth anniversary as a higher and degree-level apprenticeship provider in 2026 and is one of the top five largest apprenticeship providers in the UK. Its public sector work spans Level 5 to Level 7 standards across engineering, digital technologies, nursing, social work, policing, management and defence-related disciplines.