School leavers' programmes act as the middle ground between entering full-time employment with a company and entering full-time higher education at a university. This is because they offer a mixture of education and work opportunities. Businesses that run these schemes will allow school leavers to spend time studying (you may be sponsored or part-sponsored to help you do this) while you also work part or full time for them. Schemes differ though, depending on the companies running them, so take a look at what's around to make sure you go for the right one.
Why should I do a school leaver programme?
As a school leaver, it's understandable that you want to do what's best for your future career. For many students, this may mean they consider university as the default route. The truth is, many big employers (who in the not too distant past would only have considered graduates armed with degrees) have started offering bespoke school leaver schemes to A-level students. This benefits them by allowing them to get hold of the next generation of talent early, instead of their competitors (making their business stronger). Similarly, a school leavers scheme can help you by letting you get your feet on the career ladder early and learn invaluable skills from a young age.
School leavers' programmes in 2015
With each year that goes by, the reputations of schemes that offer alternatives to university continue to grow. For example, if you had got involved in a 2015 school leaver programme, you could have found yourself working for a major company like:
KPMG
BDO
Ernst & Young (EY)
Mazars
Nestlé
Marks & Spencer (M&S)
RBS
Grant Thornton
Deloitte (school leavers)
PwC (school leavers)
ACCA
These businesses operate in key economic industries like finance, banking, investment, retail, law, consultancy, FMCG and accountancy. If you want to get involved in a school leaver scheme, be aware that some organisations that run them will place you into specific departments. For instance, KPMG school leavers will be asked to work in the audit department, Marks & Spencer runs a management scheme for school leavers and ACCA operates accounting school leaver programmes. Make sure that if you apply for a school leaver programme, it's offering work in a field that you're interested in!
What are the benefits of doing a school leavers' programme?
There are many great reasons why you should think about doing a school leaver programme when you finish your A-levels or equivalent qualifications.For a start, if you get involved in one of these schemes rather than going to university, you should avoid getting into thousands of pounds worth of student debt! Not only can you save money, but you can start earning it too. Many companies will offer you a regular salary while you're involved in these schemes that could be as much as £20,000, along with benefits and perks. On top of this, as the study aspects of school leaver initiatives often take place at university, companies will PAY your tuition fees too! So you’re getting for free the education that other people are paying thousands for. The graduate market is still very competitive, but the school leaver market less so. Therefore you might find that it's actually easier to start working for the top companies as a school leaver than as a graduate. Starting work with top companies at such a young age will allow you to develop quickly and gain desirable practical skills, which is what employers really want. Working with keen business minds and seasoned professionals will also help you learn and build a network of influential contacts, which can be crucial for career development. With companies that offer these schemes positioning them as clear alternatives to university, they often offer you the chance to earn some serious qualifications. These could include a bachelor's degree, foundation degrees or professional accredited qualifications. So you've essentially got the main benefit of going to university, without the drawbacks. More information:
This is because they offer a mixture of education and work opportunities. Businesses that run these schemes will allow school leavers to spend time studying (you may be sponsored or part-sponsored to help you do this) while you also work part or full time for them.
Schemes differ though, depending on the companies running them, so take a look at what's around to make sure you go for the right one.
Why should I do a school leaver programme?
As a school leaver, it's understandable that you want to do what's best for your future career. For many students, this may mean they consider university as the default route.The truth is, many big employers (who in the not too distant past would only have considered graduates armed with degrees) have started offering bespoke school leaver schemes to A-level students.
This benefits them by allowing them to get hold of the next generation of talent early, instead of their competitors (making their business stronger).
Similarly, a school leavers scheme can help you by letting you get your feet on the career ladder early and learn invaluable skills from a young age.
School leavers' programmes in 2015
With each year that goes by, the reputations of schemes that offer alternatives to university continue to grow. For example, if you had got involved in a 2015 school leaver programme, you could have found yourself working for a major company like:- KPMG
- BDO
- Ernst & Young (EY)
- Mazars
- Nestlé
- Marks & Spencer (M&S)
- RBS
- Grant Thornton
- Deloitte (school leavers)
- PwC (school leavers)
- ACCA
These businesses operate in key economic industries like finance, banking, investment, retail, law, consultancy, FMCG and accountancy. If you want to get involved in a school leaver scheme, be aware that some organisations that run them will place you into specific departments.For instance, KPMG school leavers will be asked to work in the audit department, Marks & Spencer runs a management scheme for school leavers and ACCA operates accounting school leaver programmes.
Make sure that if you apply for a school leaver programme, it's offering work in a field that you're interested in!
What are the benefits of doing a school leavers' programme?
There are many great reasons why you should think about doing a school leaver programme when you finish your A-levels or equivalent qualifications.For a start, if you get involved in one of these schemes rather than going to university, you should avoid getting into thousands of pounds worth of student debt!Not only can you save money, but you can start earning it too. Many companies will offer you a regular salary while you're involved in these schemes that could be as much as £20,000, along with benefits and perks.
On top of this, as the study aspects of school leaver initiatives often take place at university, companies will PAY your tuition fees too! So you’re getting for free the education that other people are paying thousands for.
The graduate market is still very competitive, but the school leaver market less so. Therefore you might find that it's actually easier to start working for the top companies as a school leaver than as a graduate.
Starting work with top companies at such a young age will allow you to develop quickly and gain desirable practical skills, which is what employers really want.
Working with keen business minds and seasoned professionals will also help you learn and build a network of influential contacts, which can be crucial for career development.
With companies that offer these schemes positioning them as clear alternatives to university, they often offer you the chance to earn some serious qualifications.
These could include a bachelor's degree, foundation degrees or professional accredited qualifications. So you've essentially got the main benefit of going to university, without the drawbacks.
More information:
https://www.ratemyapprenticeship.co.uk/school-leaver-programmes