The CBI has commented on this year’s A-Level
results.
Pippa Morgan, CBI Head of Education &
Skills policy, said:
“Congratulations to everyone getting results – a lot
of hard work and determination has paid off for people’s futures.
“There is a whole range of fantastic opportunities
available from college or university courses, to high-quality
apprenticeships that help build skills and careers. That’s why
it’s so important that young people get good advice about the
whole world of options available.
“As valuable as exam results are, they are one of
several factors that employers look for when hiring. Businesses
value young people with positive attitudes to work and their
career – as those people so often succeed in any field they
pursue.”
On the numbers of students
achieving a university place and vocational
qualifications, Pippa said:
“Universities can offer students a great route to
expand their learning and prepare for their next step. It’s
one of a wealth of options available, with apprenticeships and
other ‘earn while you learn’ schemes also offering routes to
gaining skills and starting a great career. And over the coming
years, firms want to expand people’s possibilities, by helping
develop high-quality ‘T-levels’
qualifications.
“To grow the quality and uptake of apprenticeships,
it’s important the Government continue works with business on how
the apprenticeship levy can best work – for companies and
learners of any age. Increased flexibility is vital so businesses
can fund a wider range of training that better reflects employer
and individual’s skills needs.”
Notes to Editors:
In the 2017 CBI/Pearson Education
& Skills Survey, businesses made clear that the most
important factor for employers when recruiting school and college
leavers is their attitude to work (89%) followed by their
aptitude for work (66%); these rank well ahead of formal
qualifications (23%).
Businesses are committed to working with schools -
four out of five (81%) businesses have at least some links with
schools and/or colleges. The most common forms of engagement are
delivering careers advice and talks (81%) or offering work
experience placements (78%). Three quarters of businesses (75%)
are willing to play a greater role in delivering careers advice
in schools and colleges.
Businesses see apprenticeships as a valuable route to
training and developing their workforces: more than four in five
(83%) now offer this form of training. However, because of the
narrow design of the levy, many will use the funds to invest in
upskilling their workforce rather than creating opportunities for
young people. Two-thirds of businesses (63%) plan to reconfigure
their existing training into apprenticeships while one quarter
(23%) say they will be curbing their graduate
intakes.
