Less than 1 in 12 students (8%) aged 15 to 18 in school or college in 2016/2017 are being advised to seek a work-based apprenticeship, according to a new YouGov survey findings commissioned by work-based learning provider JTL, the Electrical Contractors Association and the Joint Industry Board. 

In contrast, some 85% of students are encouraged to go into further or higher education after finishing at school or college. Just 3% were advised to seek a job. More than a quarter of students said they had never been spoken to about work-based apprenticeships by their school or college.

Liam Sammon, Commercial Director of JTL, says: “There are some fantastic opportunities out there for young people to start an apprenticeship and embark on a career in a highly skilled and well paid job. However, schools need to do more to highlight the benefits of apprenticeships, and we look forward to working with them on this agenda.”

JTL is urging young people to see that there are many different routes to a career and they shouldn’t see an apprenticeship as a second-rate option. To spread this message, the organisation set up an Ambassador programme that sees young women and apprentices from the BAME (black, Asian and minority ethnic) communities going into schools to talk to students about apprenticeship options, relating their experiences, answering questions, offering advice and dispelling myths.

The aim is to educate young people, especially women and minorities who are underrepresented in the trades, about the career opportunities that exist for them in building services. 

The positive response to JTL’s first 10 female Ambassadors prompted the training provider to recruit an additional 12 young women in 2014 so that the Ambassadors were spread across all regions. The Ambassadors team has since grown to around 30 young people. 

Young people, parents, schools and careers advisers, and employers who want to find out more about apprenticeships in the building services sector or invite an Ambassador into their school can visit www.jtltraining.com