Widespread misconceptions about apprentice pay, qualifications and other important benefits are putting many school leavers off pursuing this route to the workplace, according to new research from Prudential.

Despite an average weekly wage of £257, the majority of school leavers (85 percent) thought apprentice pay averaged less than £200 per week and four percent even believe apprentices work for free. The findings raise concerns over the quality and quantity of information about apprenticeships reaching school leavers, as one in 10 incorrectly believe that recognised qualifications are not available through apprenticeship programmes.

More than a quarter (29 percent) of 16-18-year-olds in the UK say the information about apprenticeships in their school or college is ‘poor’, ‘very poor’ or ‘non-existent’ compared with just six percent who say the same about information regarding university. Leading insurer Prudential has announced the launch of its 2016 apprenticeship programme, which will create opportunities for up to 40 young people who will be paid the National Living Wage. It’s the latest stage of the company’s £4.1 million investment in its apprentice scheme over a four-year period.

The insurer questioned 16-18-year-olds who have decided against an apprenticeship to understand more about their choices and found that over a third (36 percent) selected other options due to the perceived level of qualification available, despite some apprenticeship programmes offering qualifications equivalent to a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree. A slightly lower number (34 percent) felt that going to university would make them more employable than completing an apprenticeship and 14 percent said it was because their parents didn’t see an apprenticeship as a viable option.

A further 15 percent decided against an apprenticeship because their school or college did not position it as an option and eight percent felt apprenticeships were for students that could not get into university. Despite these misconceptions, almost half a million young people began apprenticeships in 2014/15 and the Government has made a commitment of three million new apprenticeships starts in England between 2015 and 2020. Cathy Lewis, Executive Director of Corporate Services at Prudential said: “A lot of progress has already been made in terms of making apprenticeships more accessible and encouraging school leavers to consider these programmes alongside other options such as going to university.

“As apprenticeship programmes become more widely available across different industries and sectors, an increasing number of young people are recognising the value of these programmes, but there is still some way to go before we reach a truly level playing field.

“Our research suggests that more needs to be done to bring perceptions in line with the reality and ensure that school leavers fully understand the benefits of an apprenticeship, particularly in terms of pay and qualifications.

“The good news is that much work is already being done to promote apprenticeships, with the Government’s commitment to three million new starts by 2020 and new apprenticeship standards being developed by employer “trailblazers”. Initiatives such as National Apprenticeship Week, also play a pivotal part in raising the profile of the opportunities available to those seeking a viable alternative to higher education.”

In England alone, there are over 200 different types of apprenticeships spanning 13 subject areas. Despite this, many young people believe options are limited with 29 percent of those who decided against an apprenticeship put off because they thought programmes were limited to specific industry sectors. For example, almost half (48 percent) did not know that apprenticeships were on offer in the financial services and insurance industries.

The research also showed that more than half of school leavers (60 percent) said they thought a university degree would be preferred by employers while a third (33 percent) thought the two options would be held in equal esteem. Just seven percent thought that apprenticeships would be preferred to a university degree by employers.

The Prudential apprenticeship programme goes beyond just offering employment. The aim is to arm young people with the qualifications, knowledge and life skills needed to embark on a successful career in whichever field they choose. The programme offers placements in a wide range of roles in the company, including within its IT, HR, customer services, operations, sales support, distribution, financial planning and marketing departments. Positions are available within Prudential’s London, Reading and Stirling offices.