How Digital Identity is Speeding Up Graduate Apprenticeship Onboarding

Life at University is busy, and that's an understatement. Anything that could reduce the effort and stress from any part of their journey goes a long way. The University of Lancashire did exactly that by streamlining and digitising the onboarding process. 

University of Lancashire simplified the identity verification for their graduate apprenticeship applicants using OneID®'s bank-based verification, eliminating the hassles and delays caused by traditional document-based verification. The result: a process that's less stressful for applicants, brings operational efficiency, and maintains regulatory compliance.   

Three challenges faced by the University with traditional verification

The University of Lancashire’s previous onboarding process was often hampered by common issues associated with the traditional identity verification process:

1. Manual document submission and processing delays
2. Lost or incomplete paperwork
3. In-person verification logistics

These obstacles not only slowed the application journey and created administrative bottlenecks but also created accessibility issues for applicants, many of whom are juggling work commitments or living far from campus.

A new vision for onboarding

To address these challenges, the University sought a solution that could align with its values of inclusivity, efficiency, and innovation. The University identified the need for a fully digital, secure, and streamlined onboarding experience that could reduce the administrative overhead, remove manual errors and provide a more user-friendly system for both applicants and staff.

This vision led to the adoption of OneID® through Docusign and a fully digital, document-free identity solution that enables users to verify their identity remotely or in person in just minutes.

Why the University of Lancashire Chose OneID®

The decision to adopt OneID® was rooted in the University’s goal to future-proof its systems and improve the applicant experience.

The University of Lancashire wanted to improve: 

• Accessibility: Avoid the need to verify documents in person by letting them use OneID®'s stronger verification process, which could be completed from anywhere.
• Speed: Cut the long waiting times to complete the verification process, which earlier took days and even weeks, but could now be completed in just seconds. 
• Security: Provide a secure, data-minimising and compliant way of verifying individuals, by using OneID®'s encrypted and document-free digital identity verification technology.
• Efficiency: Help staff focus on things that matter more and accelerate application processing than spending time verifying documents, by using a completely automated process. 

By streamlining and digitising the identity verification process, the University of Lancashire were able to significantly reduce the risk of inputting errors and data inconsistencies, while also ensuring a smoother and more compliant onboarding journey.

Implementation:

The transition to OneID® was smooth and easy. It only took a couple of hours to integrate the solution, and developer resources didn’t have to be diverted away from crucial everyday tasks.

 Commenting on the result, Martin Blunt said:

“Applicants have praised the simplicity and speed of the new process. Many have commented on how easy it was to complete verification without the need for physical documents or in-person visits.”

Martin Blunt – Head of Enterprise & Engagement Unit at University of Lancashire

Early Results and Impact

Usability

The impact of the implementation was felt almost immediately. Feedback from applicants who chose to use OneID® has been overwhelmingly positive, with many citing the ease and convenience of the new process. Applicants appreciated not having to navigate paperwork or travel for verification, especially those with time or location constraints, with some noting that they were able to complete verification in just a few minutes.

From a staff perspective, the change brought a noticeable reduction in administrative tasks for the OneID® users. With OneID® automating student data verification and entry, staff could shift their focus to more strategic responsibilities, handling a higher volume of applications with less manual effort.

Compliance and Data Protection

Crucially, OneID® fully complies with regulatory requirements, such as GDPR and anti-fraud measures, and those specific to education and apprenticeships. Its encrypted technology securely shares the required data from the individual's bank - with their consent - directly with the University. OneID® does not access any financial data, nor is identity data seen or stored.

Potential future expansion

Encouraged by the success of the OneID®'s integration in apprenticeship onboarding, the University is now exploring ways to expand this digital identity solution into other areas of its operations, such as:

• Undergraduate and postgraduate student enrolment
• Staff onboarding
• Access to secure university services

This expansion reflects the University’s broader commitment to leveraging technology to improve efficiency, compliance, and the overall university experience.

“We are delighted that OneID®’s solution, delivered through Docusign, is meeting the goals of the University of Lancashire. We are particularly pleased – although not surprised - to see high levels of adoption of a fully digital, bank-based identity verification, showing marked preference over a document-based process. ”

Paula Sussex, CEO, OneID®

Conclusion

The University of Lancashire’s integration of OneID® into its graduate apprenticeship onboarding process is a standout example of innovation in higher education. By embracing digital identity verification, the University has not only solved longstanding administrative challenges but also created a more inclusive, efficient, and future-ready experience for its applicants and staff.

In doing so, the University of Lancashire is setting a new standard for how universities can harness technology to drive meaningful improvements in student services.

About The University of Lancashire  

The University of Lancashire, based in Preston, England, is a forward-thinking institution known for its commitment to applied learning, industry engagement, and research-driven education. With origins dating back to 1828, the university offers a broad range of undergraduate, postgraduate, and professional programs across key disciplines including health, business, engineering, the arts, and sciences. It prides itself on fostering innovation, supporting student success, and delivering education with real-world impact. The University of Lancashire provides a diverse and inclusive environment where academic excellence and practical experience go hand in hand.

Learn more about The University Lancashire

About OneID®

OneID® is the only UK Identity Service that uses bank-verified data to create absolute certainty between a business and its customers in a fast, simple, secure and truly digital way.

Along with bank-verified data, we also offer businesses the flexibility to choose from trusted data sources, like mobile network operators, government identity documents, and our own digital identity wallet—depending on the business and compliance needs they have to meet.

OneID®’s real-time verification solutions balance digital ease with the strongest counter-fraud measures. It seamlessly blends into the digital habits of today’s customers, enabling businesses to verify 98% of UK adults with minimal friction and maximum confidence.

In addition to identity verification, OneID® simplifies age verification, Direct Debit setup and customer and employee onboarding. By streamlining these processes, OneID® partners with businesses to implement key regulations like the Online Safety Act, reduce operational costs, improve customer engagement, and drive growth.

OneID® is certified under the UK government's Digital Identity and Attributes Trust Framework (DIATF), FCA-regulated, and a B Corp business committed to making the digital world safer. Headquartered in the UK, we’ve brought together experts in Digital Identity, Payments, Banking, Technology, and Government to help businesses build trust and security at scale.