Sutton Trust / UCAS · 2023
This UCAS and Sutton Trust report tracks five groups of young people — those interested in, applying for, and currently on apprenticeships — through a five-stage journey from initial discovery to experience. It finds that while demand for apprenticeships is high (40% of UCAS students also express interest in apprenticeships), supply of suitable opportunities is severely limited, the application process is more burdensome than for university, and disadvantaged students receive less support throughout. Key barriers include lack of local availability, affordability, and an underprestigious perception of apprenticeships compared to degrees.