London: Richard Sagar did well in his Scottish highers, but for him university was definitely not on the radar.
"From quite an early age, I knew I wanted to learn a skill or a trade. I just couldn't see myself in a desk job in an office."
So, at 18, when his friends opted for university, Sagar started an apprenticeship in electrical installation, spending four days a week at a local electrical firm, and one day at Dumfries and Galloway College. He was paid around £150 (Dh1,028) a week. His talent and flair were spotted early on, and in 2009, he was a gold medallist in WorldSkills, the international "skills olympics" competition.
Now, at 24, Sagar has his own business that specialises in home automation (control systems that "sync" home technology, so dimming the lights or switching on the TV can be done at the touch of a button). His projected earnings for this year are around £60,000.
By the time he is 30, he says, he would like to employ up to five staff.
"I've got lots of friends who went to university and I can't think of a single one that can match me in terms of earnings and career progression."
Heating engineer and plumber Brian Grice, 26, who works for Pimlico Plumbers, has a similar story to tell.
After leaving school at 16, he completed apprenticeships in both gas and electrical installation. By the time he was 19, he was fully qualified and earning £24,000 a year. Last year, he earned around £92,000.
"My dad, who is a design engineer, and has both a degree and an apprenticeship, advised me to get out into the workplace as soon as possible. Most people I know with a degree had to start again when they left university and do some vocational training. I've got mates in their 20s who did law degrees and are earning less than I was when I was 19."
Getting into employment earlier, earning on the job and not running up student debt (and the fact that their skills are often very much in demand) mean apprentices are definitely giving graduates a run for their money.
According to a Department for Education and Skills study carried out in 2007, those with a level 2 apprenticeship (equivalent to GCSE) earn more than £73,000 more over their lifetime compared with those with those who have other level 2 qualifications or below. Those with a level 3 apprenticeship (equivalent to A-level) earn around £105,000 more than those with other level 2 qualifications.
And a recent study carried out by Zenos, a subsidiary of the education provider Pearson, found that within three years of starting their training, their IT apprentices were more than £47,000 better off than their graduate counterparts, taking into consideration the lack of graduate debt.
Fiona McBride, CEO of Pearson in Practice, the vocational training division of Pearson, says: "Apprenticeships are not only a solid choice for young people but, in many cases, a better route into their chosen career than A-levels and university. Young people and their parents are waking up to this fact, and recognising the importance of work-related learning in today's competitive economy."
As one of the few areas of education and training not to be hit by government cuts, the apprenticeship market is thriving and the government has pledged to create more than £75,000 new apprenticeship places by 2015. But despite the potential for good salaries and career progression, some say apprenticeships are still not given the status they deserve.
Stigma
Khalifia Newland, who is currently working towards a level 3 apprenticeship in business and administration through New College Nottingham, says she feels there is still a stigma.
"People tend to think you're not clever enough for university, which is just not right."
Knowledge about apprenticeships can also be poor. Newland, who is now 24, spent two and a half miserable years at university (where she amassed over £16,000 worth of debt) and two years doing poorly paid jobs in call centres before she discovered apprenticeships, completely by chance, when browsing the college website for jobs.
She now earns £13,500 a year and believes that once she has completed her apprenticeship, her earnings will rise substantially.
"I had heard of apprenticeships but assumed they were all in areas like plumbing. At school it was just ‘uni uni uni'. No one ever spoke to us about alternative options."
According to Sarah Clover, sales and marketing director at the student advice website notgoingtouni, this is a common problem. She cites the 2009 study by the education charity Edge, which found that more than half of teachers (56 per cent) rated their knowledge of apprenticeships as poor. Just 24 per cent of teachers said they believed apprenticeships were a good alternative to A-levels or equivalent qualifications.
A former British Gas apprentice herself, Clover feels little has changed in terms of careers advice dished out in schools since she left over 20 years ago.
"I was academically bright, but didn't want to go to university and basically was told if I didn't, I'd be destined for a life of poverty and grind.
"Since the second year of my apprenticeship I have consistently earned more and also found it easier to progress in my career than friends who chose university. I have never regretted my decision and it angers me that so many teachers are still spreading the same untruths regarding options away from university."
In a bid to improve the advice on offer, the government is to launch an all-age careers service for England in September, to replace the Connexions service for young people and Next Step service for adults.
Many have complained about the winding down of Connexions, but the service had been criticised for focusing on the needs of the most vulnerable children at the expense of others, such as sixth-formers making decisions about university.
Plans are also being announced this week National Apprenticeships Week to introduce a student card scheme for apprentices (like the NUS card) offering discounts in high street shops and other student-style benefits. This is part of wider plans to create a Royal Society of Apprentices, funded by membership subscriptions, supported by the NUS, Edge and various employer organisations.
The plan includes promoting apprenticeships in colleges and schools, lobbying on issues that affect apprentices (including the introduction of a graduation ceremony for apprentices) and helping members to join other industry-based societies.
Although the idea of a "royal society" is in the very early planning stages, Rob Halfon, MP for Harlow, who has been working on the idea, wants to create a sense of "collegiality" for apprentices.
"The hope is that the society will give apprentices the voice they otherwise would not have."
While there is little doubt that apprenticeship can lead to recognised qualifications, good salaries and employment prospects, Kate Shoesmith, senior manager for policy and research at the City Guilds Centre for Skills Development, thinks there is work to do with employers to ensure apprenticeships are easy to set up and fit for purpose.
"It's important to make sure that apprenticeships are seen by employers as a way to unleash people's talents and potential, not just as a way to train someone to do a single job for life."
