Table 1

Study participants

RespGenderCompleted degree elementSummary
1MYQuite senior in company with a lot of experience. Completed the degree and was unwilling to take the time to complete the “administrative side of ticking boxes” of the EPA. Also frustrated by the functional skills requirement
2MNExperienced but did not yet have a degree. Changed jobs to a smaller company halfway through – did not complete the degree
3MNChanged employers and did not complete the degree. Had degree from origin country already and considered profession specific studies they had undertaken more appropriate. Frustrated by functional skills requirement
4FYExperienced and with employer for over a decade. Completed degree but did not hear about EPA requirements until months after finishing degree and then that they had to do a bunch of work to sort it
5FNWas in a management role with their employer but dropped out midway through the programme due to family issues (friend having cancer), found academic writing challenging
6FNWas very experienced in management and role when starting the apprenticeship with their employer. Got a new role in the first year and needed to withdraw due to workload conflicts
7MNHas a senior role in their organisation and already had higher level study, did apprenticeship for personal development. COVID meant significant increase in job intensity (caring profession) and then also took on a more senior role, so withdrew midway through programme. Also frustrated by functional skills requirement as their secondary school studies were outside of the UK
8FYWas quite experienced although did not have a degree but had studied other lower level qualifications in management. Completed degree (had always wanted a degree) but was frustrated by the EPA requirements
9FNWorked for a small (but multinational) company, had a new boss who was less supportive, mother passed, workload increased. Asked for a break in learning after first module – found WBL more challenging – and found she was withdrawn by her employer
10FSelf-funding to completeWorked for a small firm – had completed all but the last WBL module and then was made redundant. Switched to a conventional degree and paid for final module to complete studies
11FSelf-funding to completeWasn't able to continue the apprenticeship after was made redundant at their company (construction sector). Did the first year and is now self-funding a business degree
12FNStudied first year and then withdrew after “struggling” and taking a break. Had secondary-level study prior to this (quite some time ago) but much experience. Had caregiving duties during the pandemic: “life is too short”. Hadn't wanted degree
13MYWorked for a large private employer and completed the degree, but soon afterwards moved to a new employer who was unable to sign off on the project part (EPA). Contacted End Point Assessment Organisation to ask if he could complete and was told he needed to go through “normal channels” – despite everything “done and dusted” with their portfolio
14FNMoved employers and is waiting to restart with her new employer following probationary period
15MYQuite experienced and senior, completed the degree but changed jobs in organisation and didn’t feel the “accreditation” part as valuable and would have taken too much time to sort out
16FYHad a great deal of experience, and this was her first degree. She got a lot out of it but was frustrated by the portfolio requirement at the end, which would have required a huge amount of work to do, and apprenticeship completion wasn’t necessary for her job

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