A Quarter of Employers Don’t Recognise Apprenticeships as Valuable in the Business Sector

A University degree is something valuable to stamp onto your CV, appearing impressive to employers to show at least 3 years of advanced further education in your chosen field. Many job listings put ‘graduate’ or ‘undergraduate’ in the job title, ruling out any applicants who have alternative qualifications, which can portray a set-standard and specific, degree-learnt skills required for the role.

While degrees are an extremely popular route to go down for those determined to have a sparkling CV, many opt for different routes into their preferred career path. Apprenticeships are a recognised as learning platforms which give more real-life experience than a degree, which is more ‘by-the-book’, but are apprenticeships as valuable when working your way into the business sector?

Simply put; no, they are not. The Adecco Group UK&I’s report titled ‘Closing the Skills Gap: Will Apprenticeships Deliver the Workforce of Tomorrow?’ reveals that 1 in 4 employers have never considered apprenticeships.

18% of respondents believe that apprenticeships require too much time from the management team, and 27% feel that an apprenticeships qualification is not well suited to their business needs.  The report also revealed that ‘over 40% of over 50s lack digital skills – skills that could be effectively introduced during advanced apprenticeships.’

Despite this, the research revealed that 1 in 3 employers believe apprentices and graduates are of equal value in the workplace – even before being fully trained; however 10% feel that apprentices are of no value until they are fully qualified.

Chris Moore, President of Group Operations of Adecco Group UK and Ireland comments:

“We need to be promoting the tangible workplace benefits that apprenticeships offer in terms of culture-fit and tenure. We might just find that apprenticeships become the key to our country’s success if Brexit creates further talent gaps.”

Laura Sewell

An aspiring journalist, Laura is our content writer intern.  Pop-punk gig-goer and drag queen enthusiast, Laura is working her way into the industry with an English A -Level and love of writing about anything and everything in tow.