More students receiving their A-Level results are looking to training schemes in the workplace, rather than be saddled with university debt, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).

Applications to PwC’s A-Level entry scheme HEADstart, received over 800 applications this year for 60 vacancies, double that of 2008, and up 25% on last year.

James Chalmers, board partner, strategy and talent, PricewaterhouseCoopers, says: “We’ve no doubt that interest in schemes like ours is only going to grow over the next 12 months, following students’ recent experiences of budget cuts, rising debts and fewer places.

“A-Level entry training schemes are particularly well suited to those who have a clear career in mind when they leave school. By combining formal study with on the job experience and personal coaching, trainees put everything they learn in their studies straight into action. They are earning while studying towards a professional accounting or tax qualification, getting great work experience and a head start in their career.  

Simon Lloyd, HR director at Santander, told Recruiterthat some students decision to enter higher education will depend on whether the government imposes a graduate tax and whether university fees continue to rise.

“I am a strong supporter of ensuring that people have access to education whatever their financial means. That is dependant on what the government does with the graduate tax and rising university fees,” he says.

“It will be interesting to see the impact on people who come from various backgrounds. We do represent our customer base in terms of employees and we have a very diverse population of those. As we look towards our plans for recruitment for 2011, it is something we will take into account.”

Sylvia Perrins, chief executive of the National Skills Academy for Financial Services (NSAFS), adds: “Today’s challenging economic climate means opportunities for the younger generation are far more limited. The government, parents and employers must understand our young people are currently facing a serious education and employment crisis. I believe we must all work together  to open up alternate routes into employment including apprenticeships, part-time degrees, internships and other courses which can enhance a young person’s employability skills. Many employers have either reduced or frozen their graduate and school-leaver recruitment but it is essential to provide opportunities for the wide range of young talent who are currently unemployed.”

The situation could be worse for those students from an ethnic minority, according to Sandra Kerr, national director at the Race for Opportunity campaign.

She told Recruiter: “Race for Opportunity’s 2009 report, ‘A Race into Higher Education’ showed that despite British ethnic minorities being better represented in higher education than their share of the general population, ethnic minorities are under-represented at the majority of Russell Group universities, particularly those institutions outside of London. These are considered the ‘elite’ universities that larger companies tend to recruit from. With disparity still so clearly present, this latest freeze on undergraduate positions will simply make it harder for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) individuals to obtain a degree from recognised and elite institutions.”