Pure Potential

School Leavers

School Leaver programmes are offered by some firms to students who are bright and motivated, but do not want to go to university. They provide training in a specific career area and allow students to bypass university and gain experience and professional qualifications in their chosen career whilst earning a salary. They usually last 3-4 years and in most cases you will be ahead of your peers in career terms who decided to go down the university route. They are becoming increasingly popular as less degree programmes are available, and competition for university places is fiercer than ever. Also, in this economic climate many students are graduating and finding it difficult to find employment. Gone are the days when graduate could sail into employment, so now is the time to really think long and hard about which option is right for you. Luckily, we’ve made that process a bit easier by outlining the pros and cons below.

Pros:

• A school leavers programme is an alternative route into professions such as Accountancy, Retail or Banking
  
• You can achieve a professional qualification whilst earning money and gaining work experience
• Going to university can be expensive and can lead to debt
• You gain firsthand experience through working with professionals from an industry that interests you
• You can go on to higher education at a later stage of your life
  

Cons:

• University provides students with three or more years to think about what career they want to go into before committing to anything
• Whilst at university, students develop a wide range of skills which provide a strong foundation
• A university degree is flexible and provides access to a range of careers, where as a school leavers programme focuses solely on one particular profession
• A degree can help you quickly progress up the ladder and often opens new doors
• There is a great deal of support and government help available to those who apply to university

Before making your decision, it is always a good idea to speak to your parents, guardians and teachers. They can offer you guidance so you can make the right decision. Speaking to people who have joined a company through a school leaver programme will help answer many of your questions, as well as speaking to university students to gain both perspectives. Don’t be afraid to pick up the phone and call the HR department of the firm you are thinking of applying to. They will gladly put you in touch with employees on the programme so you can get an honest insight into what it is like.