August is a month filled with much anxiety and stress for young people. Receiving your A-Level and/or B-tec results is daunting, and the waiting game is never a pleasant one to experience.
It seems strange, and almost wrong, that a set of numbers or letters have the potential and power to completely change the trajectory of a person’s educational route, career or indeed, their life. For many, results secure a place at university, allowing students to enter upon a new chapter in their lives- one filled with independence, knowledge and a fair sprinkling of fun. But, for a growing number of young people, this traditional path is being steered clear of, with several opting to go down a more vocational route into their careers.
In the following blog, we will discuss what it is that is so appealing about apprenticeships, the current state of UK skills, and the new reforms Labour is putting in place to change the way the UK job market will look.
The Appeal of Apprenticeships
So, why are so many more people considering apprenticeships as an option over a far more conventional and established pathway like universities? The answer is simple but multifaceted - and the case presented by apprentices is often a convincing one. For starters, gone are the worries of student debt. Those 40 or so years of paying back another loan are simply non-existent for those who go down the apprenticeship route. Furthermore, the opportunity to earn a salary whilst studying is one that is particularly appealing to several people.
Another important thing to consider is the ever-growing prestige surrounding the completion of an apprenticeship. Employers are impressed by a candidate’s experience. It is all well and good to learn about something, but to actually put it into practice is something else completely- and with this alternative form of gaining knowledge, businesses can be confident that their employees are experienced and able to handle a large number of varying situations. All of this and more makes it seem obvious why so many young people are seriously considering apprenticeships as an alternative to university.
The State of Apprenticeships in the UK
You may be wondering- if apprenticeships are so appealing for both candidates and employers, why aren’t more and more people doing them? This is a valid question. In the UK, approximately a third of people aged 18-24 are in full-time education, a mere 4% are involved in an apprenticeship, around half are in a full-time career, and 13% of them are not economically active or in education. So, as you can see, there is a whole 63% of the population of young people who may wish to enrol in an apprenticeship. So, what is the problem- why aren’t more people involved? The short answer is there is a huge gap between demand and supply. It is estimated that applications for apprenticeships are exceeded by 3:1 per place, showing just how extreme that disparity is.
The UK is struggling when it comes to providing education and training. Whilst the perception is that our school system is failing us, it is actually following the completion of GCSE equivalent certificates where we are seeing an issue. There is a huge drop of people who do not continue onto secondary higher education, and 20% of working-age adults have not completed secondary higher education qualifications equivalent to A-Levels. As a country, the UK falls significantly behind it’s peers in terms of education, lacking a large number of basic qualifications in comparison to countries such as Australia, Canada, The United States, and France. But, all hope is not lost. Investing in the future of apprenticeships seems a sure and steady way to encourage more people to gain knowledge and qualifications.
The Economic Advantage
Apprenticeships offer personal rewards to employees, as they are gaining experience and knowledge at once, and they’re a benefit to employers, as their workers are becoming more skilled and gaining hands-on expertise, but they also offer a huge benefit to the economy as a whole. In 2019, analysis by the Learning and Work Institute estimated that the country’s skills shortage would cost the UK economy £120 billion in lost output by the end of the decade. It must be noted that there is not a potential shortage- it is simply that many individuals are not afforded the opportunities to learn the skills that could drive our economy forward. So, if apprenticeships were to become more readily available, it would have a significant impact on our economy, as that ‘skills-shortage’ gap would be filled by more skilled workers.
Labour Apprenticeship Reforms:
Labour have vowed to support non-traditional and more vocational educational routes. They have proposed a set of reforms in order to encourage more individuals and employers to seriously consider apprenticeships as an option. They are introducing:
- A Growth and Skills Levy. This will allow employers to use half of their allowance to learn important and relevant skills, and use half for apprenticeships.
- Skills England. Skills England is a new body to ensure businesses, training providers and government entities are brought together to ensure alignment.
- Pre-Apprenticeship Training. Labour will offer courses to help people get into apprenticeships or jobs, creating more pathways into skilled employment.
- Essential Skills Focus. They will provide essential skills training on relevant and trending skills, such as digital and green skills, as well as social care and child care.
Conclusion:
Investing in the future of apprenticeships seems a sure and steady way to encourage more people to gain knowledge and qualifications while earning a salary. Apprenticeships offer personal rewards to employees, benefits to employers, and a significant boost to the economy. Labour's proposed reforms aim to make apprenticeships more accessible and appealing, potentially bridging the skills gap and driving the UK economy forward. To find out more about different ways of approaching careers, visit dayonework.com for more information.
