Fleet Evolution calls for greater recognition of apprenticeships as job market barriers grow

Businesses need to look beyond traditional university qualifications when recruiting, according to Fleet Evolution, which is highlighting apprenticeships as an increasingly important route into professional careers.

The fleet management company has been investing in apprenticeships to give people the chance to gain degree-equivalent qualifications while earning a salary and gaining experience in the workplace.

The approach comes at a time when entering the job market can be challenging even for graduates, with employers increasingly looking for candidates who already have industry-specific experience.

For those who choose not to attend university, the barriers can be even greater. Financial pressures, family commitments or simply a preference for learning through practical employment can all influence an individual’s decision to take a different route into employment.

Fleet Evolution believes apprenticeships can help address some of those barriers by combining formal education with hands-on experience, without requiring people to take on significant levels of student debt.

The company also argues that employers risk overlooking talented candidates when degrees are used as a blanket requirement for jobs.

Skills such as problem-solving, practical ability, adaptability and a willingness to learn can be just as valuable in the workplace, it says, but are not necessarily reflected in academic qualifications.

Fleet Evolution’s own leadership team provides an example of the approach. Many of its senior figures began their careers as apprentices, while the company has also received recognition for its apprenticeship work through a Chamber of Commerce award.

Andrew Leech, founder and managing director of Fleet Evolution, said: “As evidenced by our Chamber of Commerce award and a leadership team made up largely of former apprentices, we firmly believe apprenticeships offer huge value to local businesses, and we're always happy to share our experience.”

The company says widening access to apprenticeships could benefit employers as well as individuals by bringing a broader range of skills, experiences and perspectives into the workplace.

It believes creating more routes into employment could also contribute to social mobility and help businesses identify talent that might otherwise be missed simply because an individual did not follow the traditional university route.