Parents undecided on apprenticeships

Parents say apprenticeships lead to career success but are poorly paid

Posted by Stephanie Broad | October 13, 2016 | Teaching

• #apprenticeships
• #parents
• #research
• #prudential
• #national-living-wage
• #simon-moffatt

In a recent study of parents with children who completed major school exams this summer, conducted by Prudential, over half disagreed that graduates find quicker employment success than apprentices. The same amount also disputed the traditionally-held idea that apprenticeships are suited to less academic pupils, which shows attitudes towards apprenticeships are changing.

Reportedly, just one in four parents said that apprenticeships do not offer the best career path, showing parents now believe them to be more viable career options than university degrees.

However, just under 70 percent of them expressed concern that apprenticeship opportunities are poorly paid. Furthermore, 43 percent said that apprenticeships are mainly offered in low-skilled and lower-paid industries, which is troubling for prospective apprentices.

Many apprentices realise that the prospect of good longer-term employment opportunities offsets a potentially lower initial pay structure

These preconceptions are not necessarily the case. Government data shows that the wage for apprentices begins at £3.30 per hour for under 19s or first year apprentices, however over 90 percent of employers claim they are willing to pay more than the average apprenticeship wage for the right candidate. Apprenticeships are also available in 1,500 different job roles across a huge range of industries. Opportunities stretch from advertising to youth work; from environmental engineering to the legal sector.

HR director at Prudential’s insurance business, Simon Moffatt, commented: “As university education becomes more expensive, many apprentices realise that the prospect of good longer-term employment opportunities offsets a potentially lower initial pay structure.”

The Prudential apprenticeship scheme pays the National Living Wage and allows apprentices to achieve recognised vocational qualifications as well as work-based experience.