Why tech needs to embrace apprenticeships – looking ahead to NAW 2025

Last week, the UK celebrated National Apprenticeship Week 2024 (#NAW2024), a crucial time to recognise the evolving landscape of career paths and a great week for learning how apprenticeships have transformed modern talent pipelines. Traditionally, the university route was seen as the golden ticket to a successful career in tech, but times are changing. Today, apprenticeships are emerging as a powerful alternative, offering dynamic opportunities for growth and development.

#Apprenticeships enable individuals to acquire practical skills on the job. In the current economic landscape with rising cost of living, this shift is crucial for cultivating a more inclusive industry. It dismantles barriers, providing open access to tech roles, all while sparing students from high levels of debt that often linger for years after they complete their learning.

However, despite the increasing recognition of Apprenticeships, and the benefits they bring to the workplace, there has been a decline in their adoption within the tech sector. For example, despite the Prime Minister's growth agenda emphasising the importance of the tech sector, there has been a 54% decrease in Software apprenticeship offerings and a notable decline in providers, dropping from 42 to 20 between 2020-21 and 2022-23. (Source: Parliament Report, Baltic Apprenticeships)

This decline can be attributed to many factors, including the rapid evolution of technology, generational divides in the workplace, and a move towards specialised skillsets. (Source: Reports from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and industry surveys).

I’ve worked in this field – what we call #EarlyCareers at Sage – for 4 years now. Our apprentice programmes have achieved significant milestones, successfully placing over 200 apprentices in ‘real-world’ positions since 2015. ?My role, as Global Early Careers Lead, is focused on fostering an environment that blends practical experience with formal learning, preparing the future workforce for impactful contributions no matter their role or background. I love seeing our cohort members grow and learn as they move through the programme, but I’m also always amazed by how much they end up teaching us through their ideas, talent, and enthusiasm.

As we look ahead to the rest of the year (knowing National Apprenticeship Week 2025 will be here before we know it!), it's imperative to address this decline and reignite the conversation about the significance of apprenticeships in building a robust and diverse tech workforce – because as a country facing a severe shortage of digital skills, we can’t afford to leave this valuable source of talent untapped.

There are lots of progressive businesses who are already flying the flag high for apprenticeships, but for those who may still need some convincing, here are some things to consider.

Cost-Effective Talent Development: Apprenticeships provide a cost-effective means of developing a skilled talent pipeline – businesses can benefit greatly from government incentives like receiving ￡1000 to support your apprentice in the workplace making apprenticeships an attractive strategy for talent development. ?What’s more, you get a set of colleagues who have institutional knowledge and skillsets tailored to your business objectives. Compare this to having to go out and recruit expensive talent that may or may not match well with your company and its values.

Diversity and Fresh Perspectives: Apprenticeships attract individuals enthusiastic about learning and contributing, often bringing diverse backgrounds and perspectives and employers benefit from access to a motivated talent pool who isn’t afraid of taking risks and innovating; after all, it is these very people who decided to take the path not well-trodden and skip university to enter the big, bad world of work! At Sage, our apprentice cohorts have had people from all over the country, representing various classes, ethnic and educational backgrounds; a true reflection of what the tech industry is actually like. Many of them have then gone on to even lead DEI initiatives at our company, which has been a great bonus for us.

Succession Planning and Internal Expertise: At Sage, we are big on cultivating internal talent, and apprenticeships are another way for us to do so, helping our succession planning efforts across teams. Apprentices gain familiarity with the company's values, culture, and processes, creating a pipeline of skilled colleagues ready for a smooth transition into more advanced roles. My favourite example of this is our EVP IT, Kerry Sinclair who began at Sage years ago as an apprentice herself, and consistently champions apprenticeships as a valuable growth avenue.

Amidst the concerning statistics, I’m happy to say companies like Sage are leading the initiative to reverse the trend. We know the value of diverse entry routes and are committed to offering apprenticeships that cater to a wide range of talents and backgrounds. By doing so, we are contributing to our own success while fostering an environment that reflects the rich diversity and immense talents of the global tech community.

So, as we ride the tech wave of change, let's take a moment to think about these questions:

How can we collectively challenge the stereotype that a university degree is the sole gateway to a successful tech career?

What initiatives can be implemented to encourage more companies to embrace apprenticeships and diversify their talent pipelines?

How can early career professionals contribute to creating a more inclusive and accessible tech industry?

I therefore send a ‘call to arms’ to Early Careers professionals in the #tech sector. What are you doing in your world to champion this change in mindset? I would love to learn more, and work together as a collective to #championchange.