Home

News

The latest announcements, press releases and media coverage from University Alliance.

Clear filters

  1. ‘Delivering the Healthcare Workforce of the Future’: University Alliance publishes proposals to help tackle the NHS workforce crisis

    January 31, 2023

    University Alliance, an association of universities which collectively trains 30% of nurses in England, has today (31 January) published a briefing on ‘Delivering the Healthcare Workforce of the Future’. It comes at a time when the NHS is facing a workforce crisis, with over 130,000 vacancies in England and over 46,000 vacant nursing posts – a record high. A key challenge is the need to train more nurses more quickly to the same very high standar…

    Read more of: ‘Delivering the Healthcare Workforce of the Future’: University Alliance publishes proposals to help tackle the NHS workforce crisis
    NHS Workforce

  2. Universities must be central to delivering 10 Year Workforce Plan, declare healthcare educators

    November 14, 2025

    University Alliance has joined forces with other organisations responsible for educating doctors, nurses and allied health professionals to urge the government to include education, training, and research at the centre of its upcoming NHS 10 Year Workforce Plan. In a new letter addressed to Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Wes Streeting MP, and Health Minister Karin Smyth MP, we argue that now is a timely opportunity for closer colla…

    Read more of: Universities must be central to delivering 10 Year Workforce Plan, declare healthcare educators
    UA logo - light blue

  3. New YouGov poll shows more than 8 in 10 support student loan forgiveness, grants or bursaries for students training to work in the NHS

    August 13, 2025

    New public polling on UK higher education, commissioned by University Alliance and conducted by YouGov, has revealed that the public back increased financial support for students training to enter vital professions, including the NHS, teaching, social work and policing. It has found: 84% of parents and grandparents are in favour of their loved ones attending university 75% support financial incentives for students training to be teachers 63% supp…

    Read more of: New YouGov poll shows more than 8 in 10 support student loan forgiveness, grants or bursaries for students training to work in the NHS
    YouGov and University Alliance

  4. University Alliance’s response to the Graduate Guarantee for newly qualified nurses and midwives

    August 11, 2025

    Vanessa Wilson, Chief Executive of University Alliance, said: “We welcome the Government’s Graduate Guarantee, which will support many newly qualified nurses and midwives graduating from Alliance universities to transition smoothly from education into employment into NHS roles. We hope this initiative is followed by long-term investment in training, increases in placement capacity and financial assistance, as well as joined-up workforce planning …

    Read more of: University Alliance’s response to the Graduate Guarantee for newly qualified nurses and midwives

  5. University Alliance welcomes the Level 7 Health and Care Apprenticeship Mitigation Fund

    August 8, 2025

    University Alliance welcomes the announcement from NHS England and the Department for Health and Social Care of a new mitigation fund to sustain Level 7 apprenticeships in health and care, following widespread concern over the withdrawal of Level 7 funding for learners aged 22 and older. Vanessa Wilson CEO of University Alliance said: “We are pleased and relieved to see the government has listened to our calls to preserve Level 7 apprenticeships …

    Read more of: University Alliance welcomes the Level 7 Health and Care Apprenticeship Mitigation Fund
    UA logo - light blue

  6. UA reacts to the NHS Ten Year Health Plan

    July 3, 2025

    In reaction to the NHS Ten Year Health Plan, Vanessa Wilson, CEO of University Alliance said:  “The government’s NHS Ten Year Heath Plan represents a significant stride forward in meeting the country’s evolving healthcare needs. “It’s encouraging to see recognition that nurses and allied health professionals must be highly trained. Unfortunately, this is at odds with the recent removal of apprenticeship levy funding for the high-level healthcare …

    Read more of: UA reacts to the NHS Ten Year Health Plan
    UA logo - light blue

  7. Health and education leaders meet at summit to identify solutions to the NHS workforce crisis

    March 24, 2025

    Today (Monday 24 March), the University of Derby and University Alliance hosted a roundtable of national health and education leaders, with the aim of identifying ways to ensure the goals originally set out in the NHS Long-Term Workforce Plan (2023) can be met. With over 100,000 vacancies in the NHS in England overall (including 27,452 in nursing), the roundtable took place ahead of an expected ‘refreshed’ workforce plan to be published by the go…

    Read more of: Health and education leaders meet at summit to identify solutions to the NHS workforce crisis

  8. University Alliance’s submission to the Spending Review

    February 11, 2025

    University Alliance has made its submission to the Treasury ahead of this year’s Spending Review. Read UA’s full submission The submission highlights how professional and technical universities are critical to delivering the government’s decade of renewal, and focuses on three of the government’s missions: kickstarting economic growth, building an NHS fit for the future and breaking down the barriers to opportunity. Mindful of the extremely tight…

    Read more of: University Alliance’s submission to the Spending Review

  9. Barriers must be removed for degree apprenticeships to meet NHS workforce targets, new report says

    February 10, 2025

    A new report has identified several significant barriers to the expansion of degree apprenticeship routes to deliver the workforce targets as set out in the NHS Long-Term Workforce Plan. To coincide with National Apprenticeship Week, University Alliance (UA) and the University of Derby has today (Monday 10 February) published a comprehensive report that explores the current enablers of and barriers to delivering healthcare apprenticeships. Read t…

    Read more of: Barriers must be removed for degree apprenticeships to meet NHS workforce targets, new report says
    Healthcare apprentice

  10. University Alliance publish asks ahead of 2024 Autumn Budget

    October 22, 2024

    University Alliance has published their budget submission to the Treasury, which was submitted on Tuesday 10 September, outlining their asks for the October 2024 Budget and 2025/26 Departmental Expenditure Limits. Three asks have been highlighted as part of the submission, with each ask accompanied by a policy recommendations and an explanation of the rationale and benefits. The three asks are: 1. Address financial shortfalls for higher education…

    Read more of: University Alliance publish asks ahead of 2024 Autumn Budget