A consortium led by the University of Cumbria has secured government funding to develop the country's first degree-level apprenticeships in policing.

The group has secured a share of an initial £4.5 million to develop the qualification which will see its first trainees start next autumn.

Universities and colleges across England are working with employers to offer a total of 5,200 apprenticeships in professions ranging from construction to nursing.

Designed by employers, universities and professional bodies, degree apprenticeships deliver high-tech and high level skills and offer an alternative to a traditional degree course.

Bringing together university study with paid work, degree apprentices spend part of their time at university and part with their employer.

The University of Cumbria-led group is one of 18 projects to be awarded funding from the Higher Education Funding Council for England in the first round of a two-year programme. Almost 70 bids had been submitted.

The university recently launched a search to find a programme administrator to support the consortium's work.

The university said in its description of the new role: "We are experienced in working across both public and private sector organisations and are to be a primary provider to the police service.

"An exciting new opportunity has arisen where the university will be leading a consortium of higher education institutes in supplying degree apprenticeships for police constables across the UK."

Madeleine Atkins, chief executive of the Higher Education Council for England, said: "The development of degree apprenticeships will provide more people with the chance to study in higher education and work at the same time and in doing so to fulfil their educational and career ambitions."

Other institutions in the policing apprenticeship consortium are the University of Central Lancashire, University of Chester, Liverpool John Moores University, University of Wolverhampton, Buckinghamshire New University, Open University, Staffordshire University, Plymouth University, and London Metropolitan University.

The University of Cumbria has its own College of Policing which has evolved from a working partnership with Cumbria Constabulary that began in 2007.