The Higher Degree Apprenticeship Packaging Professional BSc undergraduate course at Sheffield Hallam University is now open for applicants.

Designed by the packaging industry, for the packaging industry, the degree is the only one of its kind in the UK and aims to upskill the next generation of packaging professionals and support the long-term growth of the industry.

The course curriculum covers a wide range of topics, including materials science, sustainability theory, supply chain knowledge, business management, and legislative awareness.

Students will have the opportunity to engage in lectures, seminars, laboratory sessions, and real-world projects.

One of the central features of the programme is its work-based learning approach, enabling students to combine academic study with practical work experience.

The course is formatted so that students can learn and engage without compromising their day-to-day roles in packaging businesses, taking up only 44 academic study days at the University of the three-year course period.

Employers in England can utilise Apprenticeship levies to fund the course, making it a cost-effective investment in talent development.

Sheffield Hallam principal lecturer in apprenticeships Peter Macqueen commented: “What this degree achieves is future-proofing the packaging industry, at a time when workforce challenges are mounting. We need new young talent to be attracted into the industry in the first place, which is no mean feat, and we need to upskill the future leaders in the sector. This course is critical in that drive.”