An article in HR Magazine draws attention to the results of a recent survey carried out by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) and the EY Foundation . It identified that just one in four (24%) believe an apprenticeship offers a better chance of getting a good job than a university degree
Less than half (48%) of 16- to 21-year-olds received information on apprenticeships from their schools, according to research.
Disparity Affecting Attitudes Towards Apprenticeships
By contrast, 86% of this age group had been given guidance from their schools about going to university.
The research suggested this disparity is affecting attitudes towards apprenticeships. While two in three (65%) said they associated apprenticeships with good job prospects, only 37% linked them to a good career. Two in five (42%) expressed concerns about the perceived ‘low status’ of apprenticeships, and 67% were worried about low pay.
What Business Think of Apprenticeships
Kathryn Austin, chief people and marketing officer at Pizza Hut Restaurants, and winner of the HR Director of the Year award at the 2016 HR Excellence Awards, said she was proud to offer degree-level apprenticeships.
“Apprenticeships are a great way for people to increase their skills and knowledge and get a headstart in their chosen career. University may not be the right career path for everyone ….apprenticeships as a great way to learn on the job while also gaining qualifications.We’re proud to be leading the industry with our degree-level apprenticeship. A structured programme that includes a mix of academic and practical modules can help people not only gain a fantastic skills base in the hospitality industry, but also skills for life.”
Understanding Academic Equivalent of Apprenticeships
There is often a general lack of understanding of the various levels an apprenticeship can taken at and what academic equivalent these compare to. For instance Higher Apprenticeships in particular at Level 4 are the equivalent of a HNC and Level 5 the equivalent of a Foundation degree.offer foundation degree level qualifications
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traineeship | Apprenticeship | Apprenticeship | Higher Apprenticeship | Higher Apprenticeship |
| GCSE D-G | GCSE - A-C | AS/A Level | HNC | Foundation Degree |
For more information on apprenticeships click here. For information on Level 5 Apprenticeships in Leadership and Management click here. For Level 4 Management Apprenticeships click here.