There has never been a better time to employ an apprentice; with research from the Department for Education (DfE) showing that qualified apprentices are 15 per cent more employable than those with other qualifications and with 75 per cent of employers reporting that apprenticeships improve the quality of their product or service, apprenticeships are undergoing a renaissance.

A head start on the career ladder

The days when apprenticeships were seen as courses for those who ‘didn’t get the grades’ are long gone. Apprenticeships now offer a clear alternative route to employment. A keen apprentice can get a head start on the career ladder, gaining all-important work experience that going to University doesn’t offer. This can make an apprentice more employable than a graduate; in fact 90 per cent of apprentices stay in employment, with 70 per cent remaining with the same employer.With long-term research finding that people with Higher Apprenticeships can earn an extra £150,000 over their lifetime, apprenticeships are becoming increasingly popular. If you'd like to find out exactly what apprenticeships involve, read our in-depth guide here: Apprenticeship – an earn-as-you-learn qualification

'Ladder of Opportunity'

As National Apprenticeship Week celebrates its tenth year, under the banner “Ladder of Opportunity”– focussing on the progression routes of apprenticeships from traineeships through to higher and degree apprenticeships – Relocate Global finds out that a degree isn’t the only way to a high-paying career.Recent research by credit comparison site, TotallyMoney.com has shown that nearly 60 per cent of graduates feel they could have got their current job with a vocational qualification instead of a degree. In addition, whilst nearly half of all graduates spend up to six months unemployed after graduating, this falls to only a third of those with a vocational qualification.

The problem of debt

Nearly half of the graduates surveyed wished that they had looked into alternative options before starting their degree and nearly half felt that the debt that they had accumulated made it difficult to see the value in the degree.Student debt is now a huge problem post-university, with a typical student on a three-year course now expecting to graduate with around £35,000-£40,000 (outside London). In addition, graduating with a degree provides no guarantee of walking into a high-paying career, and students can be left with the concern of looming debt.“Most people think university is the only way to go,” said Joe Gardiner, TotallyMoney.com’s Head of Brand & Communications, “But this research shows that just isn’t the case. There are lots of opportunities out there that don’t need a degree – and vocational qualifications can be much more relevant to the work. And with so many still in student debt, it can even be the cheaper option.”

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So what are the highest paying jobs on offer for those who choose the apprenticeship route?The top 3 include: 

• Service Engineer – a starting salary of £28,138 and in high demand across the country.
• Maintenance Engineer – a starting salary of £31,848, though only half as many jobs available as service engineers.
• Assistant Manager – retail positions have the benefit of being in steady demand, and working as an assistant manager offers a starting salary of £21,190.

Apprenticeships are available in 1,500 job roles, covering more than 170 industries.Find out more about apprenticeships and the vast array of study opportunities within the UK education system in our new Guide to Education & Schools in the UKFor related news and features, visit our Education and Schools section.Access hundreds of global services and suppliers in our Online Directory  Get access to our free Global Mobility Toolkit