Mon, 10 Jan 2011
British Telecom (BT) has announced that it received more than 100 applications for each of its apprenticeship places.
The firm offered 221 apprenticeships and received an impressive 24,000 applications in total, which represents a huge increase on last year’s 9,000 applications.
The interest in apprenticeships is a symptom of the rising open mindedness towards degree alternatives. Students have been told that getting a place at university is going to be tougher than ever this year, and a degree will cost them more than before. This, combined with news of few jobs for graduates, has resulted in a much greater focus on vocational qualifications like NVQs and staff training programmes, which are accessible through apprenticeship schemes.
Unemployment among Britain’s young has climbed by five per cent in the last three years. However, it is unlikely to be just the long-term unemployed looking for places on apprenticeship schemes this year. High calibre students with good exam results are also likely to be applying.
The number of students likely to win a place at university this year will be far less than the number applying, with 150,000 bright young people expected to fall short of the requirements. Therefore, businesses should consider this an opportunity to recruit these young people and train them to become the managers and leaders of the future.
BT apprentices are paid between £11,000 and £14,000 and can study for qualifications in a range of areas including IT, telecoms, customer services or electrical systems.
See how NVQs, through learndirect, combine work-based and online learning, to provide your staff with tailored qualifications based on their job. 
Thanks for your help,
The learndirect team