Semta Skills Chief - -€œDegree without the debt - the new Degree Apprenticeships-€ What's Not To Like?
23/08/2016 Enginuity
Pupils receiving their A-Level results this month were advised to consider a vocational pathway to work rather than hastily grasp a university offer.With impending university fee increases, higher apprenticeships - some of which include integral university degrees - have never offered better value to the individual and more nurture to the nation than they do now.
Ann Watson, CEO of Semta, the employer-led not for profit organisation tasked with skilling UK industry, called for school leavers to take a long hard look at all the options before making any decision which will affect their futures.
"Degree Apprenticeships are by far the most cost effective way of gaining a degree," said Ann.
"What's not to like? They offer all the learning, the experience coupled with a clearly defined career path at the end of your studies - and no requirement to rack up huge debts in the process.
"Employers in engineering and advanced manufacturing are crying out for high calibre school leavers to take up apprenticeships.
"Engineering employers have been among the first to bring in new Degree Apprenticeships. With the levy coming in from next year it will make perfect sense for employers to expand Degree Apprenticeships, train a new generation of high-skill STEM talent and get back what they've put into the levy pot.
"Our figures show that by earning and learning and negating the need to pay ever increasing tuition fees, apprentices and particularly higher apprentices can be, within two years of qualifying, as much as £80,000 better off than their peers who go straight to university."
Engineering and advanced manufacturing employers across the country were heartened to hear that government funding reforms in the shape of the Apprenticeship Levy will continue to provide them with premium payments for training.
Semta, which represents around 150,000 companies large and small with a combined turnover of £309 billion, is the catalyst that links education and industry.
The Semta Apprenticeship Service (SAS) is poised to match school leavers and employers to create new and fill existing opportunities in the workplace.
For more information, please visit: semta.org.uk/apprenticeshipservice
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