• The UoW RMDA programme is approved by the NMC and subject to external scrutiny from OFSTED, the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) Apprenticeship Funding Rules and the NMC.
• The RMDA programme aligns with the undergraduate full-time BSc (hons) Midwifery degree. Apprentices will complete the same modules and undertake the same assessments as UCAS entry Midwifery students.
• The programme is a minimum of 4600 hours long, divided equally between practice and campus-based learning activity and meeting the NMC Standards of proficiency for midwives and the Apprenticeship standard.
• Apprentices must have a sponsoring manager and support from their employing organisation to ensure commitment (including release to attend off-the-job training).
• Employers must commit to apprentices supernumerary status when undertaking practice placement blocks.

• The costs of training are usually covered by the apprenticeship levy. Further detail of apprenticeship funding rules can be found here Apprenticeship funding rules - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) . Every employer with annual labour costs of over £3 million contributes to the fund.
• Employers with a payroll bill of £3m or less do not pay the Apprenticeship Levy. Instead, by working with an approved training provider such as the UoW, the government pays 95% of the cost of training and the employer’s contribution is only 5%. It is very important that you reserve the 95% funding from the Government by registering on the Government website.
• Further information about how to register can be found here How to register and use the apprenticeship service as an employer - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
• A summary of information is provided on our University pages Information for employers - University of Winchester.
• Apprentices must be paid for all their off-the-job learning i.e. theory days and supernumerary practice learning hours.

• Boosting the Workforce Supply
• Ready transition of employees into work and intention to stay with the host employer and to commit to a career in the NHS.
• Low attrition rates – To date, attrition rates from the RMDA range from 0-4%(compared to 13% on the traditional route)
• Supports widening participation and social mobility
• Strengthened partnership working between employers and universities.
• Could result in improvements in wider staff morale as apprentices contribute productively throughout programme

See the Registered Midwife Degree Apprenticeship evaluation report for further information (RCM, NHS England, 2024).

• Recruitment is a joint process completed in partnership between the UoW and the Employer Organisation and agreed through the employer consortium.
• Apprentices must meet requirements set by individual employers as well as the entry requirements set by the University of Winchester and the NMC.
• All potential applicants need to have a career development discussion and be supported by their Line Manager and the relevant person responsible for Apprenticeships within their organisation, before entering the University process.
• Applicants will apply directly to the University after they have successfully completed a joint interview with a member of the employing organisation and the University’s programme team. A provisional offer is made following this.

Midwifery apprentices will have an End Point Assessment which is fully integrated with completion of the NMC requirements. Apprentices will have an external EPA assessor present at the Progression and Award Board who will ratify the apprentices have completed all the required elements to gain NMC registration and have met the apprenticeship standard.

University of Winchester Lead Midwife for Education and Midwifery Programmes Lead

Dr Kate Nash  Kate.Nash@winchester.ac.uk

We welcome informal discussions about our Midwifery Degree Apprenticeship and are keen to hear from employers and providers who would like to become an employer partner. 

We will help and support you find the right apprentices and you will be invited to attend our monthly employer consortium.