Graduate Programme Versus Apprenticeship - which is best?

 Which is better a graduate programme or an appprenticeship? I am often asked this question. Only yesterday I was recruiting for a blue-chip company graduate programme. This company is also recruiting for its apprenticeship programme at the same time.

Bottom line is that for big employers both forms of recruitment offer the much needed injection of talent into the organisation. Such intakes are required to create flow within the organisation, unlocking gridlock, enabling their more experienced staff to progress in the organisation. In a nutshell these roles create flow, enabling career progression to take place.

Is a graduate programme for you?

An apprenticeship could be a great option

Photo credit: ralph and jenny                                                    Photo credit:jovike

What is a graduate programme?

•  you go to university and study for a degree, which provides a great start to a professional career.
• during this time you are not earning any income and may incur university fees and debt.
• typically graduate programmes offer higher starting salaries.
• on graduation you join an employer who offers a structured learning and development programme, often with clear pay progression points.  
• prospects.ac.uk is a great career site for graduates. However you only need to google "graduate recruitment" to see the vast array of blue-chip (FTSE 100) companies offering graduate programmes.

What is an apprenticeship?

• for lots of different reasons university may not be for everyone.
• apprentices gain work experience on the job, working towards a recognised qualification.
• a good apprenticeship programme should also offer a structured learning and development programme, often with clear pay progression points.  
• apprenticeships are now available in a wide range of careers as can be seen on apprenticeships.org.uk . Blue-chip (FTSE 100) companies also offer some great schemes.

So what does this mean for the individual? Well in times of high student loans and university fees an apprenticeship can be a great option of ultimately reaching the same place or career goal. Sure graduate programmes have high kudos, but as many graduates will vouch for sometimes, even with a great degree, it can be difficult to get a job on graduation. Its a bit of a chicken and egg situation - employers often want to recruit graduates with some work experience, but they can't get that all important first role without the necessary experience.

Apprenticeships provide a way of gaining vocational on the job training, whilst also earning an income earlier than you would if you studied a degree. Any high quality apprenticeship programme should have a structured learning and development programme in place, which often also includes pay increases upon satisfactory performance against targets. It also provides a way of achieving a recognised qualification, such as HND, without incurring the debt many graduates encounter. 

However some employers are now launching longer degree apprenticeships, enabling  individuals to gain valuable vocational training and experience as well as working towards a degree.

So what about pay? Initially graduate programmes will provide higher earning potential. However don't rule out an apprenticeship on that basis. If the apprenticeship programme is a good one it will have factored in pay increases. So as you are working and earning from day one you may find that over time, say 5 years, the graduate programme and apprenticeship programme could converge in terms of earning power and career progression.

So in effect both could provide different solutions to reach the same place. Ultimately it just comes down to personal choice, as not all options will suit everyone.