53
PRO INSTALLER NOVEMBER 2015
PRO RECRUITMENT
@proinstaller1
Apprentices ‘can earn
more’ than graduates
Taking a higher apprenticeship offers people the chance to earn
more money than going to many universities, a survey has found.
According to a study published by the Sutton Trust,
youngsters who start their
working lives with a Level
5 higher apprenticeship will
bank £1.44 million over the
course of their careers.
That is around £50,000 more
than someone who graduates from
a non-Russell Group university,
who earns £1.39 million, the survey from the think-tank suggests.
The research also took the cost
of going to university into account,
as well as the high levels of debt
many students end up with and
the fact that apprentices have the
opportunity to earn while they
learn.
Calls are now being made to
change the public perception of
on-the-job training schemes so
that they have the same status as
degrees.
In a poll published as part of
the study, 80% of young people
thought that going to university
was the best route to a lucrative
career.
But Sir Peter Lampl, chairman of
the Sutton Trust, said that taking
an apprenticeship can also lead to
success.
Writing in the foreword to the
report, Mr Lampl said: “If undergraduate degrees are seen as a
gold standard, these vocational
qualifications are too often seen
as ‘second best’, or a ‘fall back
option’.
“But some of the UK’s most
famous and successful entrepre-
neurs were formerly apprentices.
“Success can come through apprenticeships, but work is needed
to boost their quantity and quality
and change their public perception.”
Around 10,000 people sign up to
higher apprenticeships every year,
giving trainees the chance to take
home a wage while building up
practical experience in all kinds
of industries, including construction.
The Government is committed to
delivering three million extra apprenticeships by 2020, as well as
increasing the number of higher
apprenticeships on offer.
Steve Radley, Director of Policy
and Strategic Planning at CITB
said: “With over 220,000 new construction jobs being created in the
UK over the next five years, there
are a huge range of opportunities
for young people in construction.
“A construction apprenticeship,
whether at an intermediate, advanced or higher level, offers the
opportunity to earn a wage while
you learn, by combining study
with practical work experience. It
offers the next generation a foot in
the door and a rung up the ladder
in construction.”
Source: www.citb.co.uk
CET strengthens
sales team
CET, one of the UK’s leading glass processing companies, is
pleased to announce that it has strengthened its sales team
with the addition of Steve Webb as Area Sales Manager, East.
Steve is another important acquisition for CET
in its ambitious plans
to drive the business
forward, continuing to
invest for the future,
and complements the
company’s major investments in state of the art
equipment during 2015.
Steve brings with him a
wealth of industry experience that customers will be
able to benefit from, with
25 years spent as director
for a glazing contractor and
10 years at Pilkington Glass,
where he specialised in the
conservatory roof sector,
and has also run his own
business. In joining CET,
Steve will be teaming up
again with Dave Storer, National Sales Manager, having
worked together for several
years at Pilkington Glass.
With excellent technical
skills and substantial knowledge of the glazing sector,
Steve is well respected in
the industry and is looking
forward to his new challenge
with CET. As Steve says,
“With my solid experience
within the industry and having run my own business, I
fully understand the needs
of fabricators and installers and the importance of
having a quality sealed unit
supplier to meet the ever
increasing demands of our
industry. I’m really excited
about joining CET where we
are investing heavily in plant
and people that will enable
us to meet those challenges
head on.”
Pick up the PRO Installer, FREE, from one of over 600 trade counters.