Join the 100K Club

Not a day goes by without apprenticeships getting some really good coverage which is great to see so much being publicised about this career route, however we still have some significant challenges to overcome. 

Firstly, it’s the perception of a significant proportion of Joe Public that an apprenticeship is a second rate choice to University. Over the last 20 or 30 years this stigma has been festering and misconceptions growing, so please stand up and correct anyone who sprouts this garbage! An apprenticeship is just a different route, some jobs need apprentices, some jobs need university qualifications and some jobs need both! 

The other issue is how schools are measured and funded, in general this appears to be at odds with encouraging our school leavers to take up apprenticeships. A school with a sixth form gets funding via how many students they can keep hold off, therefore they have no incentive to push apprenticeships, turkeys don’t generally vote for Christmas! (we do have some great local exceptions I would add!)

If we put these issues to one side, and my temptation to wax lyrical about how inspiring engineering is, how it can drive pride and passion in making stuff and the sense of achievement in overcoming challenges, let’s focus solely on the economics.

If you're 16, 17 or 18 and have the chance of being guaranteed to be more than ￡100,000 better off in 4 or 5 years time, why wouldn’t you choose an apprenticeship? For me, particularly in engineering, it’s a no brainer.

If you compare taking A levels, then a typical 3 year degree, with the apprenticeship route (a proper 4 or 5 year apprenticeship that is – don’t get me on that soapbox!), compute the wages earned and debt you won’t have, an apprenticeship wins hands down. But being a member of the 100K club will do so much more for you than just the financial benefit, believe me, and you could still do a degree afterwards.

If I had my time again I know what choice I’d be making, the same one I made 32 years ago, I’d be a 100K club member every time.