In 2022, nearly 300,000 young people entered a new career as an apprentice. Of those, around a third were under 19 years old. Compare that to the roughly 600,0002 who began undergraduate studies this year and one thing becomes instantly clear: apprenticeships are rapidly turning into one of the most popular options for people at the start of their working journeys.
For Jubb – where success is built on how our people in both technical and support roles excel together – the learned skills, practical experience, and formal qualifications gained through apprenticeships provide the foundations for strong teams. Moreover, they offer us the chance to support and secure rising talent for whom four more years of education wasn’t the best option.
Investing in people
Roxanne Bettinson and Lily Trenberth both work in the Jubb finance team, though they joined us at different points in their careers. Roxanne came with a few years of finance experience whilst Lily was fresh out of college. Despite their different paths, both Lily, Rox and Jubb are now reaping the rewards of on-the-job learning.
“After a few years at Jubb, the team encouraged me to go for my AAT qualification,” Rox explains. “With support from Jubb, I’ve combined study, my day job and my personal commitments – so I’m contributing more to the role and I’ve got a qualification that will support me my entire career.”
For Lily, the benefits of going into an apprenticeship right after A-Levels are obvious: “I can learn in a real working environment with excellent support around me from experienced colleagues, as well as my specialist tutor from AAT. I’ll be qualified faster than the university route, all while earning a salary, incurring no student debt – and building all those transferable life skills like prioritisation and time management.”
The benefits are reciprocal, though, with Jubb being able to access a wealth of fresh talent and energy through its apprentices. Jubb’s Finance Director, Neil Moorman, is delighted with the progress of his latest protégés and with the value they have added to his wider team. “Quality apprenticeship schemes offer meaningful employment opportunities for young people,” Neil celebrates. “Lily and Roxanne are both flourishing in their respective roles and have become invaluable members of the Finance Department.”
Investing in Jubb
Apprenticeships also offer formal recognition of professional contribution; our technical apprentices studying at level three and four are now aligned with the professional qualification from the Institute of Civil Engineering – bringing a sense of satisfaction and wellbeing to the individual, and business benefits to Jubb.
Ultimately, apprenticeships are win-win for our team and for us as an organisation. They align with our values, contribute to society and offer individuals a path to the career they want without accruing a lifetime of debt.
For People and Development Manager, Kirstie Williams, apprenticeships and on-the-job schemes are core to the future of Jubb’s development:
“Looking at the bigger picture, if our industry is to overcome the current skills shortages and recruitment difficulties then we need to move fast. I see it as our duty to create the space, the pathways and the incentives for those thousands of talented young people who did not choose a university education.”
References
Apprenticeships and trainees 2022 https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/apprenticeships-and-traineeships
2022 cycle applicant figures – 26 January deadline https://www.ucas.com/data-and-analysis/undergraduate-statistics-and-reports/ucas-undergraduate-releases/applicant-releases-2022-cycle/2022-cycle-applicant-figures-26-january-deadline
