Apprenticeship stereotypes putting off school leavers, report warns

Outdated misconceptions about apprenticeships are costing school leavers career opportunities, according to a report.

Research by insurer Prudential found 68% of 16 to 18-year-olds felt most apprenticeships were in male-dominated sectors such as construction, manufacturing and IT.

Of the 115 school leavers asked, 55% also thought the only apprenticeships available to women are in conventional “female roles” such as nursing, beauty and childcare.

These views are echoed by parents as one in three agreed that apprenticeships are more accessible to boys.

Just 7% of the 83 parents asked undertook the opposing view that girls are favoured more by apprenticeship schemes.

Skills Development Scotland (SDS) is launching its modern apprenticeship equality action plan in a bid to change such “stereotypes”.

It sets out to highlight the wealth of opportunities available to both sexes and correct gender-imbalance and diversity issues in certain roles.

Stirling-based Prudential will create 21 apprenticeship opportunities in 2017 with the aim of “arming” young people with knowledge, qualifications and skills.

Simon Moffat, human resources director at Prudential's UK insurance business, said: “No-one should miss out on an opportunity to further their career, education or training because of misunderstandings.

“Clearly more can be done to get the message to students that apprenticeship opportunities now exist across 170 different industries in the UK and that there should not be any gender stereotypes when it comes to career choices.”

Katie Hutton, director of national training programmes at SDS, said: “This survey shines a light on a wider societal issue reflected throughout employment and in education, but for us there is no such thing as 'jobs for boys and jobs for girls'.

“More than 10,500 young women started a Modern Apprenticeship in Scotland last year.

“There are outdated perceptions about traditional job roles in the wider labour market that influence people's employment and educational subject choices.

“We aim to challenge stereotypes and provide new and innovative pathways into different, high-skilled sectors.”