GENERATION APPRENTICE FINDS ATTITUDES CHANGING
Posted by: electime 6th March 2018
Although the rate of new apprentices fell last year in the UK, Grant Thornton UK LLP has released new research that has found attitudes towards apprenticeships are improving.
The February 2018 statistics revealed that apprenticeship starts decreased by 26.5 per cent compared to figures in 2016/17. However, the decrease was not as large as the drop between quarter 4 2015/16 and quarter 4 2016/17.
Grant Thornton’s report named ‘Generation Apprentice’ suggests there is an evolution in the way the educational route is viewed, with more young people, employers and parents recognising the value of apprenticeships.
77 per cent of young people surveyed are on board with apprenticeships, believing they offer good career prospects, while almost half think it should be valued to the same extent as a university degree.
The report also included the views of 500 UK employers that have a pay bill of more than £3 million, which reflected similarly a positive sentiment regarding hiring apprentices.
Keely Woodley, Partner and Head of Grant Thornton’s Human Capital Practice, said:
“This changing attitude represents an evolution in the expectations of young people and parents when it comes to learning beyond school. Add in high university tuition fees and rising living costs and it becomes clear why those looking at higher education options are increasingly seeing apprenticeships and other earn as you learn routes, as a positive route in to a successful career.
Apprenticeships and Skills Minister Anne Milton said:
“I’m very pleased young people are recognising that apprenticeships give good career prospects, and that their families agree. This survey shows employers are feeling more and more positive about apprenticeships, hiring more apprentices and offering more high quality courses to train their future workforces. All of this is good news for young people, businesses and the country.”
