Qualification ‘fast becoming the norm’, says minister
Fifty-four per cent of young people in the UK would opt to undertake an apprenticeship if one were available to them, new research has claimed.
This figure rose to 56 per cent among university students, and to 66 per cent of young people who were already employed but received no training, according to statistics published by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS).
The research, based on interviews with 1,000 14- to 24-year-olds carried out by ICM, comes ahead of this year’s A-Level results, which are due out on Thursday.
Skills minister Matthew Hancock said: “Apprenticeships are fast becoming the norm for school leavers who want to earn while they learn and forge a successful career, as this data shows.
“We are introducing more than 40 new Higher Apprenticeships this year so young people can now enter areas as diverse as space engineering and law. With exam results out soon, I would urge more young people to consider whether an apprenticeship could be the right option for them.”
David Way, executive director of the National Apprenticeship Service, said that the organisation saw a record number of apprenticeship applications on A-Level results day last year.
“With up to 17,000 vacancies now available online at any one time, this summer we’re expecting that the number of young people applying for an apprenticeship could hit a new high,” he added.
BIS also pointed to research released earlier in the year, which showed that employers found apprentices 15 per cent more employable than young people with other qualifications – including those with degrees.
The CIPD welcomed the indication that apprenticeships were becoming the first preference for an increasing number of young jobseekers and workers, particularly as the qualifications were now available across a wide range of sectors and subjects.
“Good quality apprenticeships can offer an alternative, high quality route into work and help improve youth employability,” explained Katerina Rüdiger, the institute’s head of skills and policy campaigns.
“They are also a useful tool to achieve a more balanced skills profile in the UK and respond to employer skills needs. Employers should respond to this news by exploring whether they can be doing more to offer apprenticeships and open up access routes into their organisation.”
Last year the CIPD released a guide, Apprenticeships that Work, which outlined step-by-step advice for employers aiming to offer apprenticeships.