Apart from the usual problems associated with having kids, now that my four are in their teenage years the next phase to contend with is their post-16 education and future careers.
Long gone are the days when you could leave school at 14, and there is now a legal requirement for youngsters to remain in full-time education until the age of 18.
My incentive for doing A-levels and going on to university (or poly as it was known in those days) was partly fuelled by the fact that – until I attended an auction by chance – I did not know what I wanted to do, and partly because post A-level education was free. In fact we even had a grant to pay towards our beer fund.
Nowadays, however, with university fees approaching £10,000 a year and at least the same for living expenses, the chance to go on to higher education is out of reach for many.
Many of the older generation in the property industry who came through the ranks might argue that “on the job” training is the only way. Others, of course, might say that a 20-something graduate is more valuable. But, if you are a parent committed to paying at least £60,000 over three years, or a young person faced with the prospect of a significant amount of debt, you may disagree that university is the best option.
This is where apprenticeships might fill the gap in this debate and have a positive impact on the future health and talent pool of the property industry.
The history of apprenticeships in England goes back to the Middle Ages. One of the first documents attempting to set out the terms and conditions for training was the Elizabethan Statute of Artificers in 1563. By the late 19th century, the scope of apprenticeships had spread from more traditional trades, and by the 1990s modern apprenticeships were born, which have developed to reflect emerging sectors in the economy such as retail, business and IT.
The Worshipful Company of Chartered Surveyors has for many years successfully run an apprenticeship programme, but, like many other good schemes, it can only take a limited number of apprentices each year.
The chancellor’s recent autumn statement has, however, provided a boost to the apprenticeship movement by introducing from April 2017 a new apprenticeship levy of 0.5% on company payrolls to raise £3bn a year and fund 3m apprenticeships.
Setting aside the political and financial effects this “payroll tax” will have on the top 2% of employers that are set to face the cost, I suspect that we will see a greater acceptance of apprenticeships in the property industry and an increased number of apprentices. Indeed, I already know of one top 10 surveying firm that, faced with the choice of employing an inexperienced graduate or an equally inexperienced younger candidate, has opted for the apprenticeship route.
I also hope that a greater acceptance of apprenticeships within the property industry will continue to ensure that the sector consists of a range of talented professionals from diverse backgrounds. If the industry is only made up of those people who can afford to go to university, or who are not put off by the debt, this could be to its detriment. Other sectors have realised this and have taken steps to ensure jobs are accessible for all.
I also think that an increase in the number of apprentices in the industry will benefit companies. If managed well, having an apprentice can be a huge benefit to a business. According to a report earlier this year from the Skills Funding Agency, apprentices boost company loyalty and help to create a committed workforce as they stay in a business longer than other recruits, are enthusiastic and have the ability to grow and learn in the business from the bottom up.
So, as I try to guide my teenagers on a career path, I would like to think they have the option of going to university but also the chance to start work when they leave school and follow an apprenticeship which, if in the property industry, I hope will provide them will a practical grounding in what can be a varied and rewarding career. Whichever route they choose, I don’t believe they can afford to leave home any time soon and will still expect a subsidy from the bank of Dad.
