At a time where there is a huge skills gap in the accounting industry and with a drop off in accounting applicants currently in the sector last year, the enthusiasm for the role from the next generation of potential apprentices could be welcome news for the profession. 

The top five most popular apprenticeship searches are for engineering, business, law, finance and accounting.

Hundreds of thousands of students interested in becoming an apprentice can explore all their options in one place through the new UCAS apprenticeships service.

Every applicant who logs into their UCAS student account, known as the UCAS Hub, will now see the most relevant apprenticeship opportunities for them alongside degree courses. Students will be able to search for an apprenticeship at any time throughout the year, as and when employers are hiring, with vacancies updated in real time. The service is currently in the beta stage of development and can be tried out here.

UCAS interim chief executive Sander Kristel said: ‘The official launch of our new apprenticeship offering will revolut

For the first time, it means applicants will be able to research and choose their options in one place. And in 2024, students will be able to apply for apprenticeships within the UCAS Hub.

The latest UCAS research revealed unprecedented demand for apprenticeship opportunities, with nearly three in five (59%) young people in Years 9-12 considering an apprenticeship. Earning a wage is the main advantage for 42%, while learning new skills is the biggest benefit for 34%.

Yet survey respondents said they wanted more information about how much they will earn (39%), how to choose an apprenticeship (37%) and how the application process works (36%). UCAS’ new apprenticeships offering aims to help tackle the challenges would-be apprentices face in accessing this information and suitable roles.

PwC is one of the leading accounting employers who currently recruit apprentices through UCAS.

Currently, more than 40% of all UCAS undergraduate applicants are interested in an apprenticeship role – about 430,000 potential apprentices.

ionise the way applicants discover and decide between their options. We are giving greater visibility to apprenticeships, making it easier for all students to explore vacancies in our mission to create parity of esteem with traditional undergraduate degrees.

‘As we journey towards one million undergraduate applicants by the end of the decade, we can expect to see more applications to higher education and a more competitive landscape emerge.

‘By enabling the visibility of both pathways, student will be able to explore all their options to make the best decision for their future career aspirations. Likewise, employers will be able to tap into a new future talent pipeline to meet their business needs and fill critical skills shortages.’

Jennifer Coupland, chief executive of the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE), said: This is another massive step forward for apprenticeships. We know that interest has never been higher and giving them equal billing, to conventional degrees, on the UCAS Hub will be a game changer for encouraging many more young people to apply and reap the benefits of earning and learning.

‘This is a fantastic new way of connecting businesses with school leavers who are hungry to learn and climb the careers’ ladder.’

Top 10 keyword searches for apprenticeships:

1.           Engineering

2.           Business

3.           Law

4.           Finance

5.           Accounting

6.           Marketing

7.           IT

8.           Nursing

9.           Sport

10.         Computer science