This Thursday (18th August) marks the annual A-Level result day, when thousands of students find out whether they’ve been accepted into university, onto their desired apprenticeship scheme, or into work.
The following week, GCSE students go through the same process, ready to make a decision about if they progress with higher education, or head into the workplace.
Ahead of the A-Level and GCSE results days, new research from pub company and brewer Greene King has revealed that one in five Brits (20%) would consider an apprenticeship as opposed to A-Levels if they could, with 45% admitting their A-Levels were not essential to their chosen career.
The survey of 1,500 A-Level graduates asked respondents what qualifications they would choose if they could re-do their studies. Top responses include:
Stick with A-Levels 65%
Apprenticeships 20%
BTEC 6%
NVQ (National Vocational Qualification) 5.6%
Would not have continued education after GCSEs 3.4%
This year, Greene King will continue its long-running apprenticeship scheme, and has committed to taking on 5,000 new apprentices by 2025 – building on the 15,000 it’s already supported since 2011.
With inclusion at the heart of everything Greene King does, the scheme aims to give young people the opportunity to earn as they learn about different facets of the hospitality industry. Both entry level and management roles are on offer for a variety of FOH (Front of House) and BOH (Back of House) positions.
Through the apprenticeship scheme, employees will gain hands on experience working in a dynamic hospitality environment, as well as be able to work towards a series of qualifications as they progress throughout their hospitality career, including Production Chef Level 2 (equivalent to 5 x GCSEs) Senior Level 7 (MBA) and many more.
Andrew Bush, chief people and transformation officer, at Greene King said: “We want to wish everyone the best of luck ahead of A-Level results day.
“Whatever happens on A-Level and GCSE results days, it’s worth remembering that there are alternative career paths available. Our apprenticeship programme allows young people to immersive themselves in the hospitality industry and forge a long-lasting and exciting career.
“The programme is designed to fit around your chosen role and provide the support you need to reach your true potential.
“Not only can you earn from the get-go (meaning no restrictive student debt), every day is different in this fast-paced industry.”
In 2016, the hospitality industry was the 4th biggest employer in the UK. The industry directly accounted for 3.2m jobs and was further responsible for 2.8m jobs – generating over £73bn for the UK economy.*
Despite taking a hit after Brexit and during the Covid-19 pandemic, hospitality businesses are now reopening and expanding, so there is a wealth of opportunity within the industry.
To help young people explore the industry, Greene King has created a quiz which reveals the hospitality job best suited to you – based on strengths and interests, to explore the Greene King quiz visit: https://greenekingjobquiz.co.uk
