A survey by the Department for Business, Innovations and Skills finds that 80% of the 5,000 apprentices participating believe undertaking an apprenticeship definitely helped them do their job better, as well as giving them improved career prospects.
The survey report, out tomorrow, reveals that as soon as they completed their training, one-third of apprentices found themselves promoted, and three-quarters of those responding found themselves taking on more job responsibility.
On qualifying, two-thirds of the apprentices responding to the survey reported a pay increase upon gaining qualifications, as opposed to more than 60% of employees becoming qualified though routes other than an apprenticeship.
John Hayes, Minister for Apprentices, says: “I am delighted by these impressive survey results.
“We are succeeding in making apprenticeships a gold standard option.
“We need to tackle the snobbery about vocational education. It is fallacious to assume that academic study is necessarily a better route to success than learning on the job.
“Indeed half of the Rolls-Royce board started their careers as apprentices.”
Proof of the validity of the apprenticeship route comes in the form of 23-year-old Shane Trevitt, who undertook a plumbing apprenticeship with a nearby building services and engineering firm.
“When I left school it was as if you weren’t going to make anything of yourself if you didn’t go to university but I’ve been able to earn as I learned,” he says.
“I own my own home and am working alongside engineers who have the academic background but no idea what happens on a building site.
“I am studying for an HND in building services and have taken on a supervisory role. After I’ve completed that, I will go on to a degree in engineering. You do a top-up of a year to get the degree and then I would like to do a masters in management.
“None of this would have been possible if I’d gone to university as I just would not have the experience I have now and I’ve been able to do all this with no debt."
