University admissions platform to become new hub for apprenticeships

Young people are to be given the ability to search and apply for apprenticeships alongside degrees through UCAS, the service used for apply for university places, the Education Secretary has announced.

The announcement comes during National Apprenticeships Week (6th to 12th February), which aims to raise the profile of apprenticeships for learners and employers alike. The move aims to make UCAS into a one-stop-shop for young people to explore their options after leaving education.

The plans aim to help put technical and vocational education on an equal footing with traditional academic routes. By opening up the service to apprenticeship opportunities, thousands more young people will benefit from a wider choice of high-quality options, with over half of those registering for UCAS open to considering an apprenticeship but unable to do so due to a lack of vacancies. Employers will also benefit from better access to talent on UCAS and the ability to manage their apprentice recruitment process.

Education Secretary, Gillian Keegan said:

“My apprenticeship was my golden ticket. It gave me a unique insight into how a business operated, from the shop floor to the boardroom.

“I learnt the skills that businesses truly value and it launched my career in international business.

“This National Apprenticeship week I hope more people learn about the incredible opportunities available in everything from engineering to accountancy, healthcare to gaming software development. Whatever career goals you aspire to, they can be achieved through an apprenticeship, up to masters degree level.”

Clare Marchant, Chief Executive of UCAS said:

“Presenting students with all their choices in one place will not only transform the apprenticeship offering but create real parity by putting these options side-by-side with undergraduate courses.  

“As an independent charity working across the UK and globally, students are at the heart of everything we do at UCAS, and with almost half of all UCAS users interested in apprenticeships, equating to hundreds of thousands of potential apprentices, we can help meet this growing demand by showcasing all post-secondary opportunities.

“Today’s announcement by the Department for Education shows the commitment to deliver a clear, accessible and joined-up service that will help students discover, decide and apply in one place, enabling them to achieve their future careers aspirations.”

From 2023, the 1.5 million students who use UCAS will be able to explore apprenticeship opportunities alongside undergraduate courses within the Hub, allowing them to discover and decide between their options in the same place for the first time. It will also show students the different routes into a single career destination, meaning if a student is interested in, for example, engineering, they will see the undergraduate and apprenticeship routes displayed side-by-side.

From autumn 2024, students will then be able to apply for apprenticeships within the UCAS Hub and employers will be able to manage applications for their apprenticeship vacancies through UCAS too.

So that as many apprenticeship vacancies are advertised through the Hub as possible, the Government will collaborate with UCAS to share vacancy information collated through its Find an Apprenticeship Service, which already collates and advertises thousands of opportunities.