Half of school students (aged 16-18) will consider an apprenticeship when leaving school as a way to enter into employment, according to a study from the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT).

The study found that the main reasons young people chose an apprenticeship over university were to start earning money straight away (37%); to get valuable work experience (35%); and to learn valuable work skills as soon as possible (30%).

In hindsight over half (54%) of degree holders would now consider an alternative route into employment rather than completing a university degree while 45% would consider doing an apprenticeship in the future.

Apprenticeships are mainly being considered in the information and communication sector (22%) with accountancy and law apprenticeships coming in second place (14%).

However, only half of young people said they had heard about routes to employment such as apprenticeships from the careers advice they were given, with 55% saying that the advice given, for example at schools, still had a focus on going to work after university.

Mark Farrar, chief executive, AAT said: ‘Apprenticeships can do much for social mobility, allowing people to gain a recognised qualification and professional skills while earning a salary. In an increasingly competitive job market, we wanted to really delve into what young people of today were thinking ahead of embarking on their career paths.

‘At AAT we strongly support the Government’s stance to increase engagement with apprenticeships, though we feel the apprenticeship levy should be widened in scope to allow for investment in high quality traineeships and other forms of training. People of all ages can get ahead by doing an apprenticeship and businesses will have an alternative source of expertise to draw on – a work ready pool of talent.’

Three quarters (77%) of businesses believe that more people who choose different routes into employment, such as apprenticeships, with 63% changing the way they will recruit staff in the future.

Around half (48%) of businesses have already taken on apprentices or those with an apprenticeship qualification in the last five years, with 51% saying that candidates with apprenticeships have generally performed better than those with a university degree.

The NAW 2017 will highlight the success of apprenticeships over the last decade, celebrating the positive impact on individuals, businesses and the economy, with the theme ‘ladder of opportunity’.

Sue Husband, director, National Apprenticeship Service said: ‘Year-on-year I am overwhelmed by how many organisations get behind National Apprenticeship Week to celebrate the positive impact apprenticeships have on individuals, businesses and the wider economy.

‘Apprentices are on the path to a great career with an apprenticeship; and for employers, apprenticeships bring opportunity: to attract new talent, to offer progression for current staff, and to develop a motivated and highly qualified workforce. With apprenticeships available in 1500 job roles and covering more than 170 industries – there has never been a better time to get involved in apprenticeships.’

Details on the events happening across England are here. 

Further reading

CCH Daily spoke to a selection of apprentices at leading accounting firms to get insight into the different apprenticeships on offer. Top 75 Firms trainees survey 2017: the trainee perspective is available here.