Higher and Degree opportunities in the Midlands

As a careers adviser, I am getting an increasing number of year 12 and 13 students asking me about opportunities in higher apprenticeships (and sometimes degree) apprenticeships.  Based in Stafford, there is quite a struggle to find employers in this area who are offering higher or degree apprenticeships.  The alternative is for students to move where there are opportunities but on an apprenticeship salary this is often almost impossible to recommend.  Can employers give any advice on whether degree and higher apprenticeships are something that are going increase in the Midlands and North Midlands regions at all?