As results week comes to a close across the UK, we can’t help but be reminded of the difficulties that young people and school leavers, in particular, have faced over the past year or so. The ongoing disruption of the pandemic, combined with a job market that’s increasingly difficult to enter, makes for a daunting and sometimes uncertain road ahead.
In light of this, industries and governing bodies must acknowledge the struggle these students, who have been labelled as a “lost generation”, have faced. It is more vital than ever that young people are made aware of, and supported through, the full range of options available to them as they look to embark on their future careers. One excellent, viable pathway for young people is an apprenticeship. The opportunity to learn on the job and achieve recognised academic qualifications provided by apprenticeship programmes can be a hugely effective and suitable option for many school leavers.
An apprenticeship is not only a learning experience, but also a high-quality, full-time job opportunity - based around real work placements and fee-earning work. Apprenticeships provide comprehensive training across many sectors and the opportunity to develop a multitude of skills, increasingly digital and sustainability skill sets. Designed by industry, for industry, these programmes provide high-quality training, from intermediate/advanced to higher/degree apprenticeships in England and Foundation to Modern and Graduate Apprenticeships in Scotland.
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This can be a particularly attractive option for school leavers who want to enter the world of work while continuing to pursue higher education - giving them the opportunity to “earn while they learn”. Following school and college results in 2020, Make UK noted a significant upswing in apprenticeship enquiries, signalling keen interest from young people looking to take that step to gain skills and knowledge through practical experience in their preferred industry. At BAE Systems, our research backs this up, with almost two-thirds of centennials curious about apprenticeships after a year of disruption left their career paths uncertain. We also saw a record number of apprenticeship applicants last year.
The power of apprenticeships
As well as providing an excellent route into a long-term career, apprenticeships play a critical role in supporting businesses and provide a vital contribution to economic growth in the UK. This will be increasingly essential for building back a stronger workforce in light of the pandemic. The UK government’s Industrial Strategy Council has predicted massive skills shortages in the economy to hit by 2030. Recruiting apprentices is an extremely effective way for an organisation to combat this emerging issue. By taking the time to nurture and grow new talent, they can develop apprentices into a diverse, highly skilled and motivated workforce - future-proofing their talent pipeline and mitigating specific skills shortages.
At BAE Systems, we intend to recruit around 850 apprentices in 2021, the highest intake ever in a single year for our business. These apprentices work to develop skills across a wide range of sectors including engineering, manufacturing, cyber and project management. We recruit candidates from all backgrounds and are passionate about developing future talent and a diverse workforce, ultimately providing people with the skills needed to begin long-term careers with us.
As we continue to navigate the choppy waters carved out by the pandemic, it is the responsibility of both the public and private sector to work with schools and colleges to encourage students and young people into the routes that are best suited for them to reach their full potential.
