Pimlico Plumbers has launched new research into the role of careers services in promoting apprenticeships.
The company, which is a major employer of apprentices, is to conduct the research based on evidence taken from young trainees. It will explore the quality and consistency of the advice young people are given, surrounding the opportunities provided through an apprenticeship.
Anecdotal evidence suggests that most careers advice is biased towards academic routes and that young people are not given the full picture on vocational learning options.
Pimlico Plumbers’ founder, Charlie Mullins, has long campaigned for apprenticeships to be given equal billing by careers advisers. He said: “In our experience at Pimlico Plumbers, the apprentices hardly received any guidance at school about the benefits of an apprenticeship – the overwhelming majority of those who want to do apprenticeships with us have heard about apprenticeships from friends or relatives rather than through schools. That needs to change.”
Previous research from Pimlico Plumbers has focused on how the Government can deliver more apprenticeships and the role of apprenticeships in promoting social mobility. This new research will focus on careers advice. This comes in the wake of a parliamentary inquiry into careers information, advice and guidance at the end of 2016.
Charlie added, “I left school at 15, look at me now. I am not saying that the university route doesn’t work because for some people it clearly does, but we need to guarantee that people are getting the information about apprenticeships. For many young people learning, earning a wage and gaining a trade will be the right answer.
“I think that the Government’s target of three million apprenticeships by 2020 is great – but it’s a big target. That’s why I want to work with more schools to make sure that young people know about all of the options.”
Pimlico Plumbers will be publishing its report later in the spring.
