I did a degree then a three-year training contract to become a CA in the 1980s. Back then I didn't have to take out a student loan as this was the era where students didn't pay fees and even received a small grant for living expenses. I was therefore able to do a little work during term time and cover my costs.
My children's generation, however, are now subject to a 9% graduate tax for their whole working life. That is the reality for all of those who don't have the bank of mum and dad to pay for their education.
I am therefore massively disappointed to see Level 7 apprenticeships being cut. Whilst the programme was taking quite a few years to build up momentum (changing behaviours of universities, colleges, employers and others was taking time), offering these programmes made gaining a professional qualification (such as accountancy) far more accessible financially to far more people.
As to the point about offshoring, that ship sailed long, long ago with the advent of the internet. For accountants under 45 working in practice in the larger firms their working environment has always included globally dispersed teams. They laugh at all the talk of "back to the office" given that they have always had people working on audits and other areas based all around the world. There is a real shortage of accountancy trainee candidates in the developed world (so many smart young people who are good at Maths now do software engineering too), so yes, this is another reason why Level 7 apprenticeships are still a very, very good idea.
I did a degree then a three-year training contract to become a CA in the 1980s. Back then I didn't have to take out a student loan as this was the era where students didn't pay fees and even received a small grant for living expenses. I was therefore able to do a little work during term time and cover my costs.
My children's generation, however, are now subject to a 9% graduate tax for their whole working life. That is the reality for all of those who don't have the bank of mum and dad to pay for their education.
I am therefore massively disappointed to see Level 7 apprenticeships being cut. Whilst the programme was taking quite a few years to build up momentum (changing behaviours of universities, colleges, employers and others was taking time), offering these programmes made gaining a professional qualification (such as accountancy) far more accessible financially to far more people.
As to the point about offshoring, that ship sailed long, long ago with the advent of the internet. For accountants under 45 working in practice in the larger firms their working environment has always included globally dispersed teams. They laugh at all the talk of "back to the office" given that they have always had people working on audits and other areas based all around the world. There is a real shortage of accountancy trainee candidates in the developed world (so many smart young people who are good at Maths now do software engineering too), so yes, this is another reason why Level 7 apprenticeships are still a very, very good idea.
The Department of Education wouldn't know an Apprenticeship good or bad if you smacked them round the back of the head with it.
Another Department that is more useless than a useless thing in a Uselessness Competition.