Why apprenticeships are no longer the back up plan

As university fees continue to place a heavy financial burden on young people, more and more school leavers are now considering whether an apprenticeship could be a better option.

More than half of young people in England (54%) would opt to complete an apprenticeship if they were given the choice, according to a new study by research company ICM . The poll found 56% of current university students would like to do an apprenticeship if they were given the chance while the figure jumps to 66% for those who are already in employment.

Lack of employment opportunities as well as the spiralling costs of university tuition fees is seeing more young people shun university in favour of earn as you learn training schemes and apprenticeships. These are seen as an attractive option because it allows young people to build their work experience thus giving them a better chance of gaining permanent employment. One of the frequent complaints of graduates looking for work is that employers say they have no experience. An apprenticeship on the other hand ticks both boxes.

Previous research has indicated that employers find apprentices the most employable of all young people – even those with a degree.

As far as the domestic heating and gas industry is concerned, apprenticeships allow employers to develop confident, highly-skilled personnel. Training on the job ensures trainees gain experience working in wide range of testing situations while supplementary classroom learning ensures they are no gaps in technical knowledge and understanding. Both disciplines are backed up by formal qualifications which prove the trainee’s competence working in the industry.

With GCSE and A-Level results recently announced, many young people will be busy considering their future career options. What has become clear is that apprenticeships are no longer regarded as the back-up plan – in fact, many young people are now seeing them as a first choice. The National Apprenticeship Service , for example, witnessed a record number of applications for apprenticeships on the day A-level results were announced last year.

The requirements for entering a domestic gas apprenticeship are usually lower than those needed to secure a degree course with four GCSEs (A-C) including maths, English and another relevant subject such as science, engineering or design and technology preferred. But competition for gas engineer apprenticeships can be tough so finding unpaid work experience as soon as you leave school or college can help put you one step ahead.