As we approach A level results day, new research* from leading business and financial adviser Grant Thornton UK LLP finds that there is a growing recognition of the benefits that school leaver apprenticeships can offer young people, with parents more likely to encourage their child to apply for an apprenticeship than to university after leaving school.
The research, which surveyed 2000 parents with children aged 12-21 and 2000 young people aged 16-21, from across the UK, explores changing attitudes to the routes available to young people after leaving school.
It finds that parents are more likely to encourage their child to apply for a school leaver apprenticeship (44%) than for university (40%). The main reasons parents gave for encouraging school leaver apprenticeships for their children are:
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Gain practical on the job experience (63%)
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Get paid while gaining a certified qualification (62%)
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No student debt (40%)
The research also reveals a significant shift in the perception of the value and necessity of a university degree. It finds that two thirds (66%) of parents believe that the cost of a university degree delivers less value than it used to, a substantial increase from 45% in 2018 research conducted by the firm**. Almost two thirds (60%) of young people also share this view. In fact, two thirds (67%) of the young people surveyed who hold a degree believe the cost delivers less value than it used to. Additionally, 42% of parents and 37% of the young people surveyed do not consider a university degree essential to securing a well-paid job.
This shift in parents’ attitudes may be due to the increasing awareness of the benefits offered from school leaver apprenticeships. The percentage of parents who perceive school leaver apprenticeships as providing good career prospects has risen from 79% in 2018, to 84% in 2024. Nearly three quarters of young people (73%) also believe that school leaver apprenticeships offer good career prospects, with only 6% disagreeing.
The study confirms the influential role that parents can play in shaping young people’s post-school decisions. Over two-fifths (42%) of the young people respondents noted parents as the top source of influence in their career decisions. This was followed, quite significantly lower, by school/college careers service (28%) and teachers (25%).
Attitudes to apprenticeships are changing but improved careers advice still needed
While there is a growing recognition of the benefits a school leaver apprenticeship can offer, fewer of the young people surveyed have received good advice about this career path (57%) compared to a university degree (63%). Almost one in five (19%) do not believe they have received good careers advice about a school leaver apprenticeship.
Though the perception of the benefits of a school leaver apprenticeship is found to be improving, most of the young people surveyed still felt pressure to go to university, with parents and teachers noted as the top sources.
Of the young people surveyed, the majority are considering, or currently doing, a university degree (44%) citing ‘to further their education’ as the main reason for choosing this route. Just over one in five are considering or currently doing a school leaver apprenticeship (22%).
Norman Armstrong, practice leader for Grant Thornton in the Thames Valley and Southampton, said: “We can see from our research that there has been a shift in attitudes towards school leaver apprenticeships, with many young people recognising the advantages these programmes offer. While we’re fortunate to have many fantastic universities in the Thames Valley and Southampton region, this route is not right for everyone, and many can find that the approach of a school leaver apprenticeship is a better fit for them. The opportunities of this route are well illustrated by our team, as not only are there a lot of younger team members doing fantastically well on the programme, but a number of our senior team, including Partners, Senior Managers and Directors, began their career this way.
“At Grant Thornton, we actively hire both graduates and school leaver apprentices and have long championed the benefits of both. But as many young people and parents are still not aware that firms such as ours offer an apprenticeship programme, and many young people are not receiving good careers advice about this route, there is clearly more work to be done. Employers have a key role to play here, working with education providers in their local community to ensure that young people and their parents are provided with good advice, at the right time, about the different routes available to them after leaving school so they can make the right choice for them.”
Charlotte Cowlin, 19, joined Grant Thornton’s Reading office in September 2023 as an Audit Associate. Commenting on her experience as a recent school leaver, she said: “At Sixth form, my teachers often recommended university, however I quickly realised that it wasn’t the right choice for me, and I wanted to get into the world of work as soon as possible. I found out about the school leaver apprenticeship through a family friend and after hearing about their experience and the exciting opportunities on offer, I decided I wanted to explore this as an option.
“I had no work experience or background in accountancy and had no idea what to expect. My A-levels were based on my interests and didn’t really link together, which initially I was concerned about but very quickly I realised that this did not matter at all! I like the structure the apprenticeship provides, as you get allocated study time vs working. The content you learn while studying is applied to your everyday job, which helps develop your knowledge further. There is also a clear progression pathway, and working with people of all different levels enables you to figure out how you want your career pathway to pan out.
“My favourite thing about working at Grant Thornton is the culture and the people, as you work with so many different people day-in-day-out, and everybody wants to help you grow and develop. You are given multiple support systems from day one and always have a familiar face to speak to if any issues arise.”
Emily Haines-Gray, 20, joined Grant Thornton’s school leaver apprenticeship programme in September 2023 as an Audit Associate in the firm’s Oxford office. Commenting on her experience, Emily said: “I came across Grant Thornton’s school leaver programme after I decided to stop my studies at Leeds University. I felt like I was only learning theory at university, whereas in an apprenticeship I knew I would be applying what I learned in the real world.
“I knew I wanted to stay in Oxford and although I didn’t have any accounting experience, I had studied a module in it at university and really enjoyed it. This led me to do an AAT Level 2 in accounting and I realised this was the right career for me, as I enjoy problem solving and hands-on tasks. Also, I’d worked in the beauty industry since I was 16 which gave me strong communication skills. Adapting and communicating are integral in accountancy and I wanted to continue developing these skills.
“I was drawn to Grant Thornton because of its inclusivity and social mobility index rankings. Since joining, I’ve seen that it has a fantastic culture, and I always feel supported. In my first year I’ve learned so much and had many opportunities, such as speaking in schools and hosting work experience training for potential school leavers. I’ve also been able to organise the TVS Volunteering Day, become a leading member of the sustainability team and mentor for the Social Mobility Foundation. All this has enabled me to speak to senior people early in my career and make a difference in my community.”
