With A level results recently announced, 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:  

• Gain practical on the job experience (63%) 
• Get paid while gaining a certified qualification (62%) 
• 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%). 

Lauren Carlyle, Practice Leader for Grant Thornton UK LLP in the South West, said: 

“We can see from our research that there has been a shift in attitudes towards school leaver apprenticeships, with many young people and parents recognising the advantages these programmes can offer. While the South West region has several fantastic universities, this route is not right for everyone and many can find that the hands-on learning style of a school leaver apprenticeship is a better fit for them. Personally, I entered the accountancy industry as a school leaver and found that it allowed me to get to grips with the sector much earlier than if I had gone to university and gain much more experience earlier on in my career. While I was distinctly in the minority when I started out, it’s great to see that this option is becoming more and more the norm. 

“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.” 

Scott Collier, 20, joined Grant Thornton’s school leaver apprenticeship programme in September 2023 as an Audit Associate in the firm’s Bristol office. He said:

“After studying Psychology for three months at Cardiff University, I realised this wasn’t the right path for me as the way of teaching didn’t match my learning style and I wanted to work in a less subjective industry. Accountancy represents this for me, in particular audit where we are primarily working to standards.  

“I applied for a range of accountancy firms but felt I had a better experience during Grant Thornton’s interview process and their values really resonated with me. One of the main advantages to the school leaver apprenticeship is not needing a degree to become qualified. Knowing I will be fully chartered by March 2028 means I will have qualified quicker than if I had done three years of university and then completed a graduate scheme. Also, I knew I’d be joining with a cohort of people who are in the same boat as me, which was especially helpful when settling in.  

“Although I didn’t have any experience in accounting, I don’t think this has held me back, and in fact not having a pre-existing idea about the role has made me very adaptable. I’ve already gained many valuable insights and appreciate the flexible working environment, which shows that Grant Thornton really cares about their employees. Now, my primary goal is to become fully chartered, which I know will open up a plethora of opportunities for me.” 

Audit Associate Kiera Spicer, 19, started at Grant Thornton’s Bristol office as a school leaver last year and is the first person in her family to go on to further education. She said:

“I initially came across Grant Thornton when looking for work experience in the accounting industry, and successfully got on to their online work experience. I was attracted to the atmosphere at the company and how every person I met was proud and happy to be working there.   

“Even in my short time at the company, you can tell there is a great deal of respect and understanding towards all employees regardless of job roles. Everyone is readily available to help and teach which makes learning in the firm easier to navigate. The company does a lot to help employees, providing flexible working hours, training to make sure everyone has equal opportunities and always having someone available to help with understanding and provide resolutions.”  

https://www.grantthornton.co.uk/