Work experience key to employment, say parents

Ahead of GCSE results day, a survey of parents of 11-18 year olds commissioned by CMI shows that 75% of parents think high quality work experience is the best way of developing the skills that employers want. 

With record numbers of young people going through university clearing, the survey also shows that parents rate degree programmes that combine work and study over traditional university degrees. Nearly two thirds of parents (64%) favoured a degree apprenticeship with a major company like Rolls-Royce over a degree at Oxford or Cambridge (36%). And nearly three quarters (73%) rated a degree that combines full-time work with study over a traditional 3 year university degree based on lectures and seminars alone (27%). 

71% of parents also wanted all graduates to have the opportunity to develop management, enterprise and leadership skills.

Rob Wall, Head of Policy at CMI said:

“At CMI, we know first hand that employers value resilience, team-working skills and people management skills. Exactly those skills and behaviours that can be developed through high quality work experience. 

“Innovations like degree apprenticeships - which bring together work and study, and allow apprentices to apply their learning in the workplace - are hugely attractive to employers. Our survey shows that they are now increasingly popular with parents, with the vast majority rating a degree apprenticeship with a FTSE 100 corporate over a traditional 3 year degree at a top university.

“Our message to all those young people receiving their GCSE results this week is that, whatever your results and whatever path you take next, developing those employability skills like self-management and leadership will always give you an edge in a competitive jobs market." 

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