A new Apprenticeship Barometer survey conducted by BAE Systems, one of the UK’s largest apprenticeship providers, has revealed a growing preference for apprenticeships among young people aged 16-24, coinciding with National Apprenticeship Week (10-16 February).
According to the research, many are choosing apprenticeships over university as a pathway to career success, driven by a mix of financial and practical benefits.
The survey found that more than 70% of respondents were willing to relocate for apprenticeship opportunities, and 6 in 10 preferred apprenticeships to university. Key motivations cited include job security (28%), high starting salaries (28%), and hands-on training (23%). Notably, 86% of those surveyed agreed that apprenticeships help enhance social mobility, offering significant opportunities to disadvantaged groups and providing alternatives to traditional higher education routes.
Richard Hamer, HR Director of Education and Skills at BAE Systems, commented: “The Apprenticeship Barometer gives a real insight into the aspirations and values of the next generation of the UK workforce. It’s clear there’s a huge appetite for high-quality vocational training that provides a clear career pathway, while offering financial security.”
However, barriers to access remain. 35% of respondents pointed to limited opportunities, and 32% cited a lack of information as obstacles to pursuing apprenticeships. Almost 44% of young people said they felt uninformed about options available in their field of interest, while 89% believed employers should expand apprenticeship offerings alongside graduate schemes to meet rising demand.
In terms of industry preference, STEM careers—encompassing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics—were the most popular, with 26% of respondents expressing interest in these fields. STEM-related roles also ranked among the top three for job security. Additionally, 54% of those surveyed cited earning while learning as the main reason for choosing an apprenticeship, while 36% said avoiding student debt was a key factor.
To support this growing demand, BAE Systems is recruiting for more than 2,400 new apprentices, undergraduates, and graduates in 2025, with around 6,500 trainees expected to be in training, making up 15% of the company’s UK workforce.
Baroness Jacqui Smith, Minister for Skills, Department for Education, highlighted the importance of apprenticeship programmes in national policy: “Apprenticeships are central to this government’s Plan for Change—they break down barriers to opportunity and equip people of all ages and backgrounds with the skills they need to go on to rewarding careers. BAE Systems’ commitment demonstrates the real impact apprenticeships can have—helping young people gain hands-on training, access secure and well-paid careers, and power key industries like STEM.”
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I’m all for people leaning real skills like this and the pay is pretty good too.
I wish the government would step back in to construction skills training in the form of tech colleges. The biggest barrier to more and higher quality homes is the abysmal workforce. That a the fact that as there is no trades licensing the trades can move to the next job and inflict the same mistakes on the next main contractor.
The relentless drive to make kids pay a fortune to do university is a waste of resources and time. The first year is pointless with proper learning only starting in the second. Even then so many of the degrees are not practical or useful or produce more graduates in a single year than that industry could support in decades, media studies being a prime example.
If the government wants to do something useful with unis they could give free tuition in stem subjects.
Apprenticeships are a fantastic way forward for many people. Especially for the industrial base.
Great news that young people are having and utilising options other than expensive university. For too long the educationalists have had the ear of paliament
We need skills and and people trained by industry so as yo have a multiple of experiences rather than the narrow band of university.
I was at my son’s school yesterday for a talk about apprenticeships. Plenty of national and big local providers mentioned. Not one mention of the military who are I think one of the biggest providers in the country. Disappointing really. I wonder how much work recruiting centres do with schools now. Are they getting the messages into schools about the options they can offer?
Missed opportunity.