More than a third of parents do not know what an apprenticeship is, threatening to limit the career choices of their children, a study shows.
A survey of 2,000 parents by facilities management firm ABM found that only one in seven thought an apprenticeship was a good option.
A separate poll of 2,000 children aged 11 to 16 revealed that most did not know what an apprenticeship was.
These survey results signal an awareness problem which is impacting career choices and creating a skills gaps in key industries.
ABM UK Director Adam Baker commented, said “We were shocked to find a genuine lack of knowledge on apprenticeships amongst parents, and that many still consider them to be a last resort for children who fail their exams.
“It shows a need for a more unified approach and a better way of communicating, especially with parents, whose influence alongside teachers is critical.
“When a young person is set to choose a university, there’s a huge amount of support from schools, parents and educational bodies such as UCAS.
“We need similar representation for apprenticeships and technical careers to ensure young people in the UK don’t miss out on enriching, lucrative and credible career options.
“It’s vital we give parents and schools more informationand empower them to show children all the options open to them.”
The research follows news of the T-levels programme and the Apprentice Levy – which aim to present young people with more choices in educational pathways.
However, at the same time reports from the UK government show a decline in new apprentices for March 2018, which are down 28 per cent compared to the same period a year ago.
Some useful links
Find an apprenticeship
Search and apply for an apprenticeship in England here.
Find a traineeship
If you’re not ready for an apprenticeship then a traineeship may be just the thing you need to get you there. It’s a course with work experience that gets you ready for work or an apprenticeship. It can last up to 6 months. More info here.
National Careers Service
They provide information, advice and guidance to help you make decisions on learning, training and work
- Job profiles – Find out what a job involves and if it’s right for you.
- Skills health check – Use their assessment tools to find out what kind of jobs could suit you and save your results.
- Find a course – Look for courses and learning providers and save information about them.
- Help to get a job – Get advice on the different stages of a job hunt, including how to improve your interview technique and write an effective CV. You can get help to search for your first job, get back into work or change career direction.
Visit the National Careers Service here
