Leading IT Apprenticeship provider Intequal today urges grandparents, parents, carers and youth workers to get clued up about apprenticeships. The Microsoft Apprenticeship Programme Provider warns that confusion over apprenticeship benefits, the Government’s messaging over the Apprenticeship Levy* and stress – pre, during and post exams – makes it difficult for pupils to really see the benefits of learning ‘on the job’. It also states that in some cases educational establishments are failing to give appropriate information to students about future life choices.

The Microsoft Apprenticeship Provider is urging parents, grandparents and carers to recognise the signs of anxiety and to encourage young people to talk, saying that often it is not the schools or colleges who influence a young person’s career choices. Quite often this advice will come from a person they trust or admire – an older sibling, a grandparent or a youth worker.

Steve Payne, managing director of Intequal, says:

“Exam stress and confusion over apprenticeships is taking its toll on the next generation of workers. Our apprentices have told us that this period in the year is the most stressful for young people and that many of them heard about apprenticeships not from school or college but from someone they trusted or admired. Many of them also felt relieved when they were able to tell their parents of the choices they had made and that in some cases, knowing they weren’t going to rack up immense debts from going to university released the pressure.”

Tricia Woolfrey, a leading Coach and Therapist at A-Head for Success agrees. She says:

“In some cases, apprenticeships today are better than a degree and more effective in getting a foot up in a career, but sometimes young people feel pressured into making a decision, which isn’t right for them. Signs to look out for if you think your child is over-anxious can include a change in behaviour, different eating habits, using substances to deal with emotions, changes in sleep patterns and a more defensive or despondent manner. As a parent, it is important to try and let your child explain their needs, without getting too emotional or asking hard or closed questions. Instead, make it a safe environment to talk and ask balanced questions. Let you child know that you are there for them, ready to listen whenever they are ready.”

Intequal warns that there is too much confusion about apprenticeships – from the Government, the media and critically, from educators, which means that young people have misconceptions about what their career and future training options are. It also points out that teachers don’t feel as comfortable about promoting apprenticeships as they would a university course, as they themselves have often taken a mainly academic route.

Steve Payne, Director of Intequal says:

“Many young people are concerned about life choices and choosing the right opportunity. It’s important that young people know all their options and recognise that by doing an apprenticeship, they won’t have the debt or the complete uncertainty of job hunting when their course has finished. From our apprenticeship programmes, over 90% of Intequal apprentices receive permanent job offers.”

Steve continues:

“We still have a lot of work to do to make sure young people know there are options out there for them and that choosing an apprenticeship is a viable option. That is why we have created our Learn on the Job campaign, which includes information for young people, parents, grandparents, youth workers and any other individual who feels they could do with knowing more.”

Intequal’s Learn on the Job campaign will run throughout the summer. More information on Intequal can be found at: https://intequal.co.uk/ or ring 023 9244 9730.