Government Wants Young People To Choose Apprenticeships

John Denham, secretary for innovation, universities and skills, believes too many school leavers are choosing universities over apprenticeships, as Labour aims to increase the number of young people who go into apprenticeships from 40% to 50% by 2010.

Speakin to the FT he said “There are certainly young people who currently go to university who would have been better off on an Advanced Apprenticeship". Mr Denham added “We’re absolutely committed to our 50 per cent target” – Labour’s longheld aspiration that half of all young people should go into higher education.

The proportion has stalled at about 40 per cent in recent years, after growing strongly in the 1990s. He suggested that some school leavers might benefit from first doing an apprenticeship before going to university later in their careers.

Denham’s department is committed to 50% of young people taking degrees and hopes 20% will go into apprenticeships.