SPARKS Female Skills Competition 2024 Grand Final This Week!
We are delighted to announce that the Grand Final of the SPARKS Female Skills Competition 2024 is just two days away!
The training provider said the number of 15 to 18-year-olds encouraged towards apprenticeships went up from 8% in 2017 to 11% in 2019.
But it described the results as “disappointing”, as far more school children are steered towards a university route.
A YouGov survey, commissioned by JTL ahead of National Apprenticeship Week (3rd to 9th February 2020), also found that only 5% of females surveyed felt they’d been encouraged to become a skilled tradesperson, compared to 14% of males.
And only 10% of 15-18-year olds consider themselves “very content” with the amount of technical job support or practical skills such as engineering or plumbing they receive in lessons.
Jon Graham, Chief Executive of JTL, said: “These results are disappointing and show there is still much more work to be done in ensuring school leavers are fully aware of the benefits of undertaking an apprenticeship and in helping their parents or guardians feel confident and empowered in choosing this route.
“This is even more pertinent following the introduction of the Baker Clause in 2018, which was established to ensure schools give their pupils access to and information about technical education and apprenticeship opportunities.
“The UK is experiencing a skills shortage, especially within the building services engineering sector, so apprenticeships offer a fantastic opportunity for school leavers to embark on a career in a highly skilled and well-paid job.
“We really want to challenge people’s understanding of what an apprenticeship involves and importantly what it can lead to, so that all school leavers are fully informed. We also want to encourage more female and BAME learners, who are massively underrepresented within the trades, to consider an apprenticeship as an option.”
For more information about JTL, visit www.jtltraining.com.