Autotrader joins major employers in national campaign championing technical routes into work
Autotrader has joined a coalition of leading UK employers as signatories in an open letter urging parents to consider technical education such as apprenticeships, T Levels and Higher Technical Qualifications alongside more traditional academic options as routes into secure, skilled careers.
This comes as new research, conducted for the Gatsby Charitable Foundation as part of the Talking Futures campaign, suggests many parents are increasingly concerned about how changes in the job market, including the rise of AI, could affect their children’s future career prospects.
Research found that 55% of parents believe artificial intelligence will make it harder for their child to get a job, while 68% worry their child will struggle to find their first role within a few years of leaving education. More than half (52%) also fear their child could be left behind by changes in the world of work.
By backing the open letter, Autotrader joins 17 organisations across sectors including healthcare, finance, infrastructure and engineering in highlighting the wide range of opportunities technical education can offer. Other signatories include NHS England, Lloyds Banking Group, Network Rail, GKN and the Met Office. Together, they are encouraging parents to move beyond the assumption that traditional academic routes are the right choice for every young person.
The campaign is also responding to strong demand from parents for more guidance, with 77% saying they want to learn more about technical education opportunities. That demand comes against a broader backdrop of concern around youth employment. More than one million young people in the UK are currently not in education, employment or training, while employers across a wide range of sectors continue to expand technical roles and invest in alternative career pathways.
Data released alongside the letter demonstrates the scale of employer investment in technical pathways. Over the last five years, signatory organisations have employed more than 129,000 apprentices and provided more than 8,600 young people with nine-week T-level placements since the qualifications were launched.
For Autotrader, supporting the initiative reflects its commitment to helping young people understand the different routes available into work and the opportunities that technical learning can create.
At Autotrader, we have championed both apprenticeships and graduate entry routes, as we know there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Talent comes from many different paths, and technical education provides a high-quality route into great careers in the tech industry. Creating choice is essential to building the workforce of the future
We’re proud to support the Talking Futures campaign and help encourage more informed conversations about the different pathways available. There are so many different journeys for young people into a successful career and technical education can open up valuable opportunities for them to build practical skills, gain real-world experience and take their first steps into roles where they can thrive.
Sarah Brooks Pearce, Head of Early Careers at Autotrader
Parents and carers can find out more about the campaign and access resources to help support conversations about future career options on the Talking Futures website.
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