The survey was carried out on behalf of the Department for Education (DfE) to mark the start of National Apprenticeships Week (3-9 February 2020).
More than a third of parents said they still associate apprenticeships with manual jobs such as plumbing and carpentry, while 45 per cent are unaware apprenticeships go up to degree level.
Other findings from the survey include:
- 45 per cent of parents don’t think apprenticeships are valued as highly as a university degree by the UK’s top employers.
- Close to half of all parents surveyed said they weren’t worried about the future earning potential of their child should they choose an apprenticeship.
- The majority of parents feel that apprenticeships are for everyone, regardless of background or age.
The survey comes after statistics from the House of Commons Library, published last month, revealed that 72,400 fewer people were undertaking an apprenticeship in 2018/19 than in 2017/18.
While the number of learners starting an apprenticeship increased in 2018/19 compared to 2017/18, the numbers are still below those in 2016/17, this is mainly due to the introduction of a new apprenticeship funding system in May 2017.
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Education secretary Gavin Williamson said, ‘This research shows that outdated views are holding young people back from pursuing their dream career.
‘Every parent wants the best for their children and when they ask you for advice about their futures, it’s incredibly daunting. But I know that when I’m asked for help by my children, I will absolutely encourage them to consider an apprenticeship.
‘As we celebrate the life changing potential of apprenticeships I would urge all parents to do the same and look beyond stereotypes and embrace every opportunity.’
Founder of Mumsnet Justine Roberts added, ‘Our research shows that parents on Mumsnet are interested in the idea of apprenticeships and don’t dismiss them out of hand, but some of our users are not very confident about explaining the opportunities on offer, and in some cases perhaps haven’t yet fully understood the range of qualifications and the doors they can open with employers.
‘The world of education and training has changed a great deal over the past ten years and it’s obviously taking some of us a little while to catch up - on the bright side, you could say this is a great example of lifelong learning.’
Jennifer Coupland, chief executive of the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE), said, 'The Government has been radically reforming apprenticeships over the past few years, but it takes time for perceptions to catch up with reality.
'There are more than 500 different apprenticeships available across a much wider variety of professions and industries than ever before.
'People can now earn and learn their way to becoming nurses, paramedics, accountants, solicitors, actuaries, laboratory technicians, and architects through apprenticeships.'