Great careers don’t need degrees
DID you know an apprenticeship can lead to a degree or even a master’s level postgraduate qualification? That accountants and other traditionally graduate-only professions can start as apprentices? Or in a significant number of roles apprentices earn more than graduates?
With most of the biggest and best employers taking on apprentices as well as graduates, you would think that apprenticeships would now be more highly regarded than a degree.
Yet research published to coincide with National Apprenticeship Week shows there is still a stigma attached to this paid on-the-job training.
Six in 10 employers feel middle and senior managers would be unwilling to be seen as an apprentice, according to the research from ILM, the specialist provider of leadership qualifications. So it is time to bust some myths: Existing staff — even senior leaders — can benefit: Postgraduate qualifications in engineering, MBAs and professional and master’s level qualifications all now have apprenticeship frameworks.
Apprenticeships are great value for employers: The Apprenticeship Levy means that training costs are fully-covered for many employers. Those with a wage bill of more than £3 million, who pay the levy, can use their digital account to pay training providers while smaller firms pay 10 per cent of the training cost of each apprentice they take on, or nothing if the recruit is under 18 or aged 19 to 24 with an EHC (education, health, care) plan.
You can get a degree, with no student debt: One of the fastest growing types of apprenticeship is a higher or degree-level apprenticeship, with all tuition fees paid by the employer.
Some apprenticeships are more desirable than university: Many top employers take on hundreds of graduates, but only a few dozen apprentices. The attractions of a degree with no debt mean they are highly competitive.
Take Barclays as an example. It took on just 82 Higher Apprentices (these are for those who might otherwise go to university) last year. Applications for this year’s intake opened yesterday, so if you are interested act fast. You must be predicted to get at least 80 UCAS points — or have a year’s experience — and can train in one of a variety of career paths over four years.
Barclays has just revealed that it will become the first UK bank to offer You do not need to go to university to embark on some of the most interesting, exciting and well-paid careers — instead start an apprenticeship, writes Niki Chesworth
Master’s Apprenticeships. The scheme launched in partnership with Cranfield School of Management will be entirely funded by Barclays and lead to an MSc in Business and Strategic Leaderships. For more information visit Barclays. co.uk/apprenticeships.
You can fast track — if you know what career you want to do: If you are set on a particular career path, gaining a respected qualification in that sector can be a better alternative than a degree or staying on for sixth form.
For example, EY offers Business Apprenticeships in assurance, tax, transactions and consulting, with apprentices completing the CFAB qualification and then going on to full qualification through the ICAEW (Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales). Applications are open now, and you need to have or be predicted to gain three A-levels. See ukcareers.ey.com/schools/our-programmes/apprenticeships/
There are some really interesting apprenticeships available: Tree surgeon, animal handler and museum curator — these are just some of the apprenticeships that are offered by the City of London Corporation. See city oflondon.gov.uk/cityapprenticeships.
Pay can be higher than for graduates: While in some roles — accountancy, for example — apprentices can expect to do as well as graduates, in other sectors they do far better than those with a degree. In construction, small building firms in the capital pay annual average salaries of over £60,000 a year for site manager and more than £50,000 a year for electricians, roofers, bricklayers, scaffolders, carpenters and plasterers, according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) London. In comparison, an architect graduate can expect to earn just over £40,000.
How to find out more: You can apply direct or log on to the apprenticeship service website at getingofar.gov.uk.