Released to coincide with National Apprenticeship Week (10-16 February), the findings are part of a newly launched Apprenticeship Barometer, which surveyed 2,000 young people across the country to identify views on education, training and pathways to career success.
The survey revealed a growing interest in apprenticeships, with 6 in 10 preferring it as an alternative to university. Over a quarter of respondents (28 per cent) looked favourably on apprenticeships for job security, with high starting salaries (28 per cent) and hands-on training (23 per cent) also seen as appealing features.
A total of 86 per cent of respondents agreed that apprenticeships enhance social mobility, offering significant potential to support disadvantaged groups and provide alternatives to traditional higher education routes.
Despite their appeal, responses suggest barriers such as limited opportunities (35 per cent) and lack of information (32 per cent) continue to hinder access to apprenticeships.
Nearly half (44 per cent) of the young people surveyed said they felt uninformed about apprenticeship opportunities in their field of interest and 89 per cent believed employers should expand apprenticeship programmes alongside graduate schemes to meet rising demand.
Industries linked to careers in science, technology engineering and mathematics (STEM) led the way in apprenticeship preferences, with 26 per cent of the young people surveyed expressing interest. They also ranked in the top three careers that respondents associated with the greatest job security.
More than half (54 per cent) of respondents identified earning while learning as the main reason for choosing an apprenticeship over university, while 36 per cent cited avoiding student debt as a key motivator.
In a statement, Richard Hamer, HR Director of Education and Skills at BAE Systems, said: “The Apprenticeship Barometer gives a real insight into the aspirations and values of the next generation of the UK workforce. It’s clear there’s a huge appetite for high quality vocational training that provides a clear career pathway, whilst offering financial security.
“I’d encourage anyone interested in apprenticeships to have a look at the thousands of highly valuable opportunities available across the country.”
BAE Systems is recruiting over 2,400 new apprentice, undergraduate and graduate roles in 2025, which will result in around 6,500 in training, making up approximately 15 per cent of its UK workforce.
Comment: Can Britain compete in global semiconductor manufacturing?
Britain can compete in semiconductor manufacturing if it looks at radical innovative manufacture. Design is OK but innovative manufacture would be...