Fab Lanza, an apprentice at advisory firm BDO. "There needs to be more information available," he says.
MORE THAN four-fifths (84%) of young people in the East Midlands say they do not receive enough information about apprenticeships when considering their career options.
More work needs to be done to connect young people with local businesses and apprenticeship providers, add 55%. Nearly a third (29%) say that this lack of information means those who already know people in certain industries and businesses have an advantage.
The Young Minds survey of just over 1,000 people aged 18-25 across the UK was commissioned by accountancy and advisory firm BDO to provide a snapshot of the career aspirations and challenges of young people.
The survey found that nearly half (48%) of those polled in the East Midlands still believe that attending university will provide more career choices yet more than a third (35%) would also consider undertaking an apprenticeship after their degree to upskill, achieve a master’s degree-level qualification or to train in a specialist area or profession.
Kyla Bellingall, regional managing partner at BDO LLP in the Midlands, said: “Apprenticeships play a vital role in building an inclusive and highly skilled workforce of tomorrow yet many young people in the Midlands feel they are still being denied access.
“This consistent lack of information and education is creating a bottleneck in new talent.
“Greater connectivity between government, businesses and the education system is needed to allow young people to make more informed decisions and to help match them with employers offering apprenticeship opportunities.
“We need to work together to ensure everyone has access to the information, training and high-quality employment they need to reach their potential.”
Fab Lanza is an audit trainee with BDO. He started his school leaver apprenticeship in 2022 after taking part in the Explore BDO Insight programme during his A-Levels.
“There needs to be more information available to students considering their career choices,” he said.
“I first discovered apprenticeships through my student network when I participated in the Explore BDO Insight programme. After I completed my A-levels, I was fast-tracked through the application process because of my participation during the insight week.
“Now I am halfway through a Level 7 apprenticeship (equivalent to a Master’s degree) and will be fully qualified within the next couple of years.”
BDO has around 1,000 apprentices and offers various routes into the profession, including a four-year school leaver apprenticeship, insight programmes specifically aimed at those from lower socio-economic backgrounds and summer internships – all geared towards developing professional skills and creating rewarding careers.
BDO is a founding and active member of Access Accountancy, a charitable body with a core purpose built around diversity and inclusion and the challenges those from lower socio-economic backgrounds face in accessing the profession.
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