More school leavers choosing work over university
13 August 2012
School leavers are increasingly choosing to go straight into work rather than going to university, according to accountancy firm PwC.
Mon, 13 Aug 2012
School leavers are increasingly choosing to go straight into work rather than going to university, according to accountancy firm PwC.
The firm says this year it received 2,352 applications for its 100 school and college leaver vacancies, an increase of 34% on last year.
Gaenor Bagley, partner and head of people at PwC, says: “There is a generation of students weighing up their career and training options differently, either because of university fees, economic forecasts or graduate unemployment, and employers have to adapt. Students are looking at their options in their teens, rather than waiting until their third year at university.”
School leavers now represent 6% of PwC’s overall student recruitment, says the company.
Earlier this year, fellow accountancy firm KPMG announced the launch of a London-based three-year apprenticeship scheme for 20 school leavers with a minimum of ABB A-level grades. Paul Taylor, chief operating officer of KPMG’s Risk Consulting practice, said the firm recognised that “university is not right for everyone”.
In February, Barclays, HSBC and Santander said they planned to take on more than 2,000 apprentices this year.
And in recent months, Diageo and Co-Operative Legal Services have also announced plans to take on more apprentices.
Fred Grindrod, apprenticeships policy and campaigns officer for Unionlearn, which promotes lifelong learning for union members, says that despite a record 15,000 apprenticeships on offer this year, “each place will be chased by around seven applicants”.
School leavers are increasingly choosing to go straight into work rather than going to university, according to accountancy firm PwC.
The firm says this year it received 2,352 applications for its 100 school and college leaver vacancies, an increase of 34% on last year.
Gaenor Bagley, partner and head of people at PwC, says: “There is a generation of students weighing up their career and training options differently, either because of university fees, economic forecasts or graduate unemployment, and employers have to adapt. Students are looking at their options in their teens, rather than waiting until their third year at university.”
School leavers now represent 6% of PwC’s overall student recruitment, says the company.
Earlier this year, fellow accountancy firm KPMG announced the launch of a London-based three-year apprenticeship scheme for 20 school leavers with a minimum of ABB A-level grades. Paul Taylor, chief operating officer of KPMG’s Risk Consulting practice, said the firm recognised that “university is not right for everyone”.
In February, Barclays, HSBC and Santander said they planned to take on more than 2,000 apprentices this year.
And in recent months, Diageo and Co-Operative Legal Services have also announced plans to take on more apprentices.
Fred Grindrod, apprenticeships policy and campaigns officer for Unionlearn, which promotes lifelong learning for union members, says that despite a record 15,000 apprenticeships on offer this year, “each place will be chased by around seven applicants”.
