Introduction
Background
Building on research already undertaken with engineering apprentices at an FE College in the south of England ( Humphries-Smith & Hunt , 2017 and Humphries-Smith , White & Hunt , 2017 ), the aim of this research project was to investigate the factors which affect the likelihood of a learner from a disadvantaged background making a technical apprenticeship their career choice . The research already undertaken included data from one set of around 500 engineering apprentices based at the college which indicated there are a disproportionately low number of apprentices from disadvantaged backgrounds . In order to understand the reasons for this , this project focused on careers advice and guidance from the perspective of a group of NCOP learners . Careers advice and guidance was considered in its widest sense to include formal advice and guidance within school ( such as interviews and careers fairs ), as well as informal avenues such as family and local networks .
The research links with the SUN research theme : ‘ Technical qualifications – Apprenticeships and aspiration to higher education ’ as well as with one of the overall aims of NCOP being to : “ support young people to make well-informed decisions about their future education ” ( Office for Students , 2019 ). In a wider context , the research is set within recent UK governmental reforms of school careers advice and guidance . The project ran from January 2019 to the end of October 2019 .
Objectives
The objectives of this research are to :
• To understand the differences in lived experience of careers related advice and support of the target ward learners ( as defined by NCOP );
• To establish and disseminate best practice with a view to increasing the number of learners from disadvantaged backgrounds taking up technical apprenticeships .
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