Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+

Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+

BenefitsLatest NewsLearning & development

Starbucks to pay for employees’ degrees

by Rob Moss 2 Apr 2019
by Rob Moss 2 Apr 2019 US Starbucks employees graduating last year. Photo: Starbucks
US Starbucks employees graduating last year. Photo: Starbucks

Starbucks has announced it will fund UK employees through a Bachelor’s degree, in an expansion of its US education programme.

The coffee chain will offer 100 employees in the UK free tuition for a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree, through an online degree programmes from Arizona State University.

Martin Brok, president of Starbucks EMEA, said: “If we can remove the financial burden of the cost of a university degree while helping our partners gain skills that will set them up for future success – we can’t think of a better investment.”

Starbucks launched its partnership with Arizona State University in 2014, and has supported more than 18,000 US staff through the programme, with 2,400 graduates to date. UK applications open today and the first courses will begin in October 2019.

To qualify for this benefit, applicants must be a Starbucks employee based in a company-operated store in the UK and have completed three months’ continuous employment. Graduates cannot apply, nor can anyone participating in any other full-time education or training.

Having worked closely with employees to identify what employee benefits matter most to them, Starbucks said that many expressed how expensive it is study for a university degree – tuition fees for those studying in England can be up to £9,250 a year.

Starbucks said that creating opportunities like this for its staff results in a “deeper connection to the brand, customer connections and retention within the organisation”.

Developed and taught by the same university faculty who teach on campus in Arizona, more than 40 degree subjects are available including: Biological Sciences, Nutrition, Business Data Analytics, Women and Gender Studies, Tourism, Corporate Accounting, and Fine Arts & Design.

Courses will be delivered through an online portal to allow staff to learn in their own time, and the degree is a fully recognised qualification in the U.K.

“For those who have ever considered earning their degree and haven’t had the opportunity or those who’ve had to put their studies on hold, the Starbucks Degree Achievement Programme could be the chance they’ve been waiting for to earn their degree – with Starbucks here to pick up the bill,” added Brok.

Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance

Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday

OptOut
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

In addition to the financial support, students who are admitted under the plan will also have a dedicated enrolment coach and academic advisor to support them through graduation.

Michael M. Crow, president, Arizona State University said: “ASU’s ability to scale through innovation and technology, allows us to reach learners across the globe, in the effort to provide an education to all who desire to learn. We are delighted to partner once again with Starbucks in this important step forward with the global expansion of our partnership.”

Rob Moss

Rob Moss is a business journalist with more than 25 years' experience. He has been editor of Personnel Today since 2010. He joined the publication in 2006 as online editor of the award-winning website. Rob specialises in labour market economics, gender diversity and family-friendly working. He has hosted hundreds of webinar and podcasts. Before writing about HR and employment he ran news and feature desks on publications serving the global optical and eyewear market, the UK electrical industry, and energy markets in Asia and the Middle East.

previous post
New flexibility in immigration rules allays skills gap fears
next post
Top 10 HR questions March 2019: Anonymous witness rights

1 comment

Abdullah AlMasoud 4 Apr 2019 - 8:18 am

What about other countries that Starbucks operates in such as Saudi Arabia? Employees and customers appreciate companies that benefit the societies that they operate in

Comments are closed.

You may also like

How neuroscience can unlock employee recognition

22 May 2025

What will reward look like in 2035?

28 Apr 2025

Are employers ready to recruit more people with...

11 Apr 2025

Post-pandemic starters seek more pay for on-site working

10 Apr 2025

Two-thirds of healthcare workers threaten to quit without...

31 Mar 2025

Retail employers offering fewer perks to offset wage...

26 Mar 2025

Employee Benefits Awards 2025 shortlist revealed

24 Mar 2025

New rules from April on neonatal leave and...

21 Mar 2025

‘Significant’ gap between what employers and employees expect...

17 Mar 2025

Flexible working and health insurance top employee priorities...

21 Feb 2025

  • 2025 Employee Communications Report PROMOTED | HR and leadership...Read more
  • The Majority of Employees Have Their Eyes on Their Next Move PROMOTED | A staggering 65%...Read more
  • Prioritising performance management: Strategies for success (webinar) WEBINAR | In today’s fast-paced...Read more
  • Self-Leadership: The Key to Successful Organisations PROMOTED | Eletive is helping businesses...Read more
  • Retaining Female Talent: Four Ways to Reduce Workplace Drop Out PROMOTED | International Women’s Day...Read more

Personnel Today Jobs
 

Search Jobs

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2025

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2025 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+