‘Not worth it!’ Britons turn away from university as apprenticeships see major spike

‘Not worth it!’ Britons turn away from university as apprenticeships see major spike

WATCH HERE: Apprenticeships see surge in UK as young people turn away from university

GB News
Jack Carson

By Jack Carson


Published: 11/02/2024

- 13:06

Jeremy Hunt committed £50million to boost apprenticeship training

The UK is seeing a spike in apprenticeships as studies suggest Britons are put off by the prospect of university debt.

Research from Ipsos found 25 per cent of people in the UK don’t think going to university is worth it for young people.


Around 340,000 people started an apprenticeship last year with more than 750,000 enrolled on one in the UK.

The latest Government data shows that under-19s accounted for 32.7 per cent of apprenticeship starts, and ‘Higher’ apprenticeships, equivalent to starting a university degree, have seen a 9.9 per cent increase.

\u200bUK apprenticeships have seen a major spike

UK apprenticeships have seen a major spike

GB News

In Derby, Remit Training offer programmes in various sectors from Business and Hospitality to Automotive.

George Sturgeon is a HGV Apprentice Technician in his first year having finished his GCSEs.

He said: “I see it as the complete way forward. Rather than going to college and sitting exams, you’re learning in the workshop whilst being paid.

“Going to university you end up with piles and piles of debt you’ll be paying off for years, but whilst you’re here you’ll be learning valuable life skills whilst you’re learning how to keep the country moving, and everyone’s going to need a mechanic at the end of the day!”

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
\u200bGeorge Sturgeon

George Sturgeon is a HGV Apprentice Technician in his first year having finished his GCSEs

GB News

Chairman at Remit, Rob Foulston, says they’ve seen a rise in apprenticeships since the pandemic.

He told GB News: “We’ve seen a huge increase in what we do in heavy vehicle engineering in particular.

“I think Covid taught us all how important it was to keep Britain moving, keeping the trucks on the road.

“It’s one of the key industries that was identified at the time, and I think that’s attracted a lot of young people into the industry.”

Rob Foulston

Chairman at Remit, Rob Foulston, says they’ve seen a rise in apprenticeships since the pandemic

GB News

More investment from the government has also been announced, with Chancellor Jeremy Hunt committing £50million in the Autumn Statement to boost apprenticeship training in sectors like engineering and manufacturing.

Alexandra Rafter, Head of Marketing at Remit, believes apprenticeships should be at the forefront of the economy going forward.

She said: “We’re working across most disciplines with most industries that are critical to the UK economy.

“Apprenticeships need to be at the forefront of that and college, university, isn’t a financially viable or reasonable opportunity for everybody to thrive in.

“Apprenticeships should be up there as a viable alternative to those routes.”

You may like