University application service UCAS is to expand its offering to enable young people to search and apply for apprenticeships across the UK.
The move, which coincides with National Apprenticeships Week, is designed to make UCAS a one-stop-shop for young people to explore their options after leaving education.
By opening up the service to apprenticeship opportunities, it is hoped that thousands more young people will benefit from a wider choice of high-quality options, with over half of those registering for UCAS open to considering an apprenticeship but unable to do so due to a lack of vacancies.
Employers will also benefit from better access to talent on UCAS and the ability to manage their apprentice recruitment process.
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said: “My apprenticeship was my golden ticket. It gave me a unique insight into how a business operated, from the shop floor to the boardroom. I learnt the skills that businesses truly value and it launched my career in international business.
“This National Apprenticeship Week I hope more people learn about the incredible opportunities available in everything from engineering to accountancy, healthcare to gaming software development. Whatever career goals you aspire to, they can be achieved through an apprenticeship, up to masters degree level.”
From 2023, the 1.5 million students who use UCAS will be able to explore apprenticeship opportunities alongside undergraduate courses within the hub, allowing them to discover and decide between their options in the same place for the first time.
It will also show students the different routes into a single career destination, meaning if a student is interested in, for example, engineering, they will see the undergraduate and apprenticeship routes displayed side-by-side.
From autumn 2024, students will then be able to apply for apprenticeships within the UCAS hub and employers will be able to manage applications for their apprenticeship vacancies through UCAS too.
The Government says it will collaborate with UCAS to share vacancy information collated through its Find an Apprenticeship Service, which already collates and advertises thousands of opportunities.
Meanwhile, in a survey carried out by the Chartered Institute of Marketing, an overwhelming majority (97%) think a marketing apprenticeship is useful for those looking to enter the industry, and 52% offer marketing apprenticeships alongside work experience programmes (75%) and graduate schemes (47%).
Despite the wealth of apprenticeship opportunities the industry appears to be providing, barriers do remain in being able to offer them: namely the size/structure of a team (58%), the time restraints (31%) and budget constraints (25%).
Additionally, only 13% of UK respondents access the apprenticeship levy as part of this offering to cover all the cost, and a quarter (26%) don’t use the levy at all, highlighting a missed opportunity.
CIM associate director of qualifications Maggie Jones said: “Marketing apprenticeships provide an alternative pathway into the marketing industry for individuals who may not have the financial means or the desire to pursue a traditional marketing qualification.
“Apprenticeships offer on-the-job training and hands-on experience, allowing individuals to learn the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the field.
“We need to view apprenticeships as an opportunity that can help bridge the skills gap in the industry. Many marketers lack the technical and digital skills needed to succeed in today’s marketplace, and apprenticeships can provide the training and experience needed to fill these gaps.”
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