PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the national policy context for the development of higher apprenticeships (HAs) and discuss the initial vision and rationale for the University of Derby Corporate's (UDC) High Impact Apprenticeship project.Design/methodology/approachA critical evaluation of historical policy developments is undertaken outlining the potential for the development of a highly skilled workforce for businesses across all sectors. An embedded case study articulates the application of this learning to emergent thinking on the evolution of a framework and infrastructure to support the development of HAs.FindingsInitial findings discuss the challenges to be faced when developing flexible and sustainable frameworks and highlight areas of good practice encountered to date. UDC's recognised expertise in work‐based learning is applied in the context of curriculum development and specifically the development of the capacity and capability of work based tutors to support learners in the workplace.Research limitations/implicationsKey areas for further investigation within a longitudinal study are identified, which will contribute to the academic discourse in the area and offer insights into the perspectives of the key stakeholders involved in HAs, with a view to identifying and disseminating best practice for all parties.Originality/valueThe paper will be of value to all key stakeholders in the HA partnership: providers, tutors, employers, as well as those charged with the governance of such developments, including Sector Skills councils and NAS.