Entrepreneur and owner of SJD Accountancy, Simon Dolan, says no. He’s one of many successful people telling students ‘you don’t need a degree’ to get ahead. Sir Richard Branson, Lord Sugar and Simon Cowell are also renowned businessmen who have succeeded without a degree.
University no longer guarantees you a job
Many people go to university to get the experience; however there is no longer a guarantee of securing a high-paid job. With an average of 83 graduates applying for every job on the market and trying to compete with those with more experience (as well as tuition fees racking up) other avenues need to be explored.
In contrast, an apprenticeship allows your child to gain invaluable working experience and learn whilst getting paid for it! More and more businesses are taking on young apprentices and with lots of hard work and dedication, your child could secure themselves a position in the company after their apprenticeship. Each level only lasts a year, allowing your child to move on to another course upon completion; they have the opportunity to gain as many qualifications as they’d like in order to progress on to a higher role.
Your child might be ready for real world experience
New laws mean that children have to stay in education until they’re 18 whether it’s school, college, university, or an apprenticeship. If your child doesn’t enjoy academic environments, they may be better suited to an apprenticeship which gives them the freedom to do a hands-on role and earn money, all whilst completing their course. Your child will also be given the opportunity to progress from a level 2 qualification (intermediate apprenticeship) on to a level 3 (higher apprenticeship), providing they have the required GCSE grades.
Apprenticeships allow your child to gain experience of their chosen career before finding a full-time job. They’ll also be more likely to get the roles they interview for if they’ve done some on-the-job training in their chosen field beforehand.