Employers in the South West are increasingly looking to apprenticeships to attract diverse, talented young people to their business, new research shows.
The latest Business Outlook Tracker survey by Grant Thornton UK LLP reveals that every South West business leader who responded said that they currently hire young people who have completed their A-Levels (or equivalent exams) into apprenticeship roles.
Three quarters (75%) of respondents said that they hire more school leavers in their business now than before the pandemic and 70% agree that hiring school leavers is as important to their business as hiring university graduates.
Jonathan Riley, practice leader for Grant Thornton UK LLP in the South West, said: “Employers in the South West are discovering the benefits of using apprenticeships as a development tool. These employers are strategically using apprenticeships to address issues such as improving diversity in the workforce, achieving sustainable recruitment, and replacing traditional graduate programs with highly desirable qualifications."
According to ONS data collected in February 2022, more than 9 in 10 (91%) of university students in England were worried about the cost of living. Half (50%) felt they had financial difficulties and more than three-quarters (77%) of students were concerned that the rising cost of living may affect how well they do in their studies.
For young people, these increasing financial burdens from self-funded higher education could explain the rising demand for paid apprenticeships.
