Uni would mean a lot of debt, whereas your apprenticeship presumeably pays you (although not a lot). Also, a lot of apprenticeships will lead into a job that would be similar to what graduates would go into - so there may be very little benefit in the degree. If you like the company you are currently doing an apprenticeship with and would be keen to work for them afterwards, I'd say stick with the apprenticeship. You may even be able to persuade them to sponsor you to do a year at uni to upgrade your HND to a degree, you end up with a degree for free! And a guaranteed job at the end of it...
Alternatively, as others have mentioned there is the option to go to uni after completion of your apprenticeship. You don't have to go straight away either - give yourself a few years to save up the required money.
Also, sorry but the uni experience is really rather overrated - yes, the first year you will probably enjoy partying and socialising, but after that it's just like working all over again. With more stress. And loads of debt... Unless you go to a really good uni or come out with a top class degree, you'll probably end up in a similar job to that you would have done after the apprenticeship anyway, so from a career point of view I'd say the degree at Essex is probably a waste of money/ time. So, you'd basically be paying 9k a year for the social experience... Is it really worth it? Perhaps try visiting any old school friends who are at uni if you want to enjoy some of the social aspects?