University: a door-opener or waste of time?

As it’s National Apprenticeship Week, this seems a timely topic... So, let me start by taking you back to summer 2013, when I’d just returned from my first girls holiday to Kavos (no shame!). I’d just completed my final A level exams and the majority of my school year were preparing to go to university that September. My friends had submitted their UCAS applications and were waiting on their results to determine whether they’d get a place at their first choice uni.?

Me? Well I was adamant I didn’t want to go to university, despite being on track to achieve good grades and receiving pressure from the teachers that it would be ‘the best route for me’. I just felt as though I was done with studying, wanted to start earning and begin my career.

My alternative path

I began applying for office-based apprenticeships. After a few interviews I secured my first full time job as a Marketing and Sales Assistant for a recruitment agency (shout out to Grant Whelan & Gerry Pearson ). Taking on an apprenticeship meant I also spent one day in college every two weeks, where I studied for an NVQ L3 in Business Administration.

The perks

I began earning (albeit on a salary of about ￡10k, but compared to my friends living on student finance in uni halls this seemed a lot). I felt like a had a purpose, the door to the working world had been opened and I could see a career path ahead, which motivated me. I got to meet a whole new group of people, made new friends and got to experience what a work Christmas party is REALLY like. For me, an apprenticeship was a win-win scenario. I was gaining experience in the workplace, taking home a salary each month and ended up with an additional qualification. And to this day I don’t feel as though I’ve ever missed out on a job opportunity due to not having a degree.?

Is university really worth it in 2023?

Why are companies still offering grad schemes if the industry doesn’t require a formal qualification? Does a tickbox to say you have a degree hold enough weight to set you aside from other candidates? I’m not sure the reasoning of ‘maturity’ and ‘demonstrable experience prioritising deadlines’ still has as much influence as it used to.

Having spent a number of years working in recruitment I’ve also seen it from the side of an employer. I've hired graduates, school leavers and individuals with relevant work experience, but there are other factors that have more impact on the strength of the candidate. Even if the degree content is applicable, often the knowledge gained from studying at university doesn’t prepare you for what the lived experience of the job will be. People skills and ambition, for example, can play a bigger role in the success of the new starter.

On the flip side

Don’t get me wrong, there are exceptions. Doctors, Lawyers, Scientists and so on… There are plenty of careers that understandably require the theory ahead of practical experience. But gradually these are becoming the minority. And with many companies offering degree apprenticeship programmes, why wouldn’t you combine the two and obtain your degree alongside gaining experience working in the role!

What do you think? Is this a controversial view or are we now seeing a shift in the route school leavers are taking?