Apprenticeship schemes are gaining more traction amongst businesses as an excellent alternative to higher education qualifications. One of the main advantages of apprenticeships is the opportunity to gain practical, hands-on experience from day one, working on a wide variety of tasks that help build skills whilst dedicating one day a week studying for a qualification.
Unlike college and university where students spend years studying before gaining practical experience at work, apprentices are immediately immersed into the working environment. All Things Business has for some time been championing the message that ‘Education needs business and business needs education’.Nowhere is this link stronger than in the context of apprenticeships.
At Howes Percival, there is a particular emphasis on the firm’s recruitment strategy that includes an extensive outreach programme. This initiative involves attending career events, providing work experience, and producing career guides that promote the many routes into law. Howes Percival is proud to say that it now employs 13 apprentices with eight having been recruited over the past year, joining various departments including HR, IT, Finance and
Business Development. This is just the beginning; the firm plans to expand on its outreach programme to improve social mobility in its communities as well as increasing the number of apprenticeship opportunities firm-wide.
The journey to become a solicitor is challenging – the training is in-depth, lengthy and requires commitment. However, solicitor apprenticeships at Howes Percival offer a unique advantage, as the learning begins in a live client environment from day one, not four years down the line as would be the case via the university route. This hands-on approach means that apprentices quickly acquire practical legal experience, gaining deeper insights into the firm, the profession, and client needs. Although the end qualification is the same as any other solicitor, the direct and frontline experience gained through an apprenticeship provides a significant career advantage.
One of the most compelling aspects of apprenticeships is the financial benefit. The cost of attending university can be prohibitive, putting higher education out of reach for many. Apprenticeships, on the other hand, allow individuals to earn while they learn. From the very beginning, apprentices are paid for their work, and their pay increases as they gain more qualifications and experience. This means that by the time they qualify, apprentices have earned a salary and avoided the debt that often accompanies a university education. There is also a financial benefit to employers as they can use funds from the apprenticeship levy to help with training costs.
Perhaps the collaboration between business and education is more crucial than we realise. Working together on apprenticeship programmes enables more people to gain higher education whilst making continued education more accessible to all and providing more people with the chance to have better career opportunities.
Howes Percival’s trainees and apprentices all have unique stories about their own personal journeys to qualification in their chosen careers. Kate Sullivan, a trainee at Howes Percival, left education after Sixth Form not feeling ready for university and took an administrative assistant role at Howes Percival instead. At the time, Solicitor Apprenticeships were not an option.
Kate said:
“In my role as an administrative assistant, I gained a valuable insight into what law in practice looked like and this confirmed to me that law was the career for me. I went on to study law at the University of Leeds to follow the conventional route to become a trainee solicitor.”
Holly Whyte, Apprentice Solicitor, said:
“Aside from the obvious financial benefits, I have been able to gain invaluable experience whilst studying for my legal qualifications. Before starting at Howes Percival, I did not know anyone in the legal industry or have any legal work experience so completing an apprenticeship has given me the opportunity to feel comfortable in the fast-paced environment whilst being supported by my team. Being able to apply my current studies of contract law to my everyday work has made it easier to understand trickier legal principles and do well in my studies.”
Molly Clarke, People Apprentice, added:
“I finished my Business course at college and moved on to university, where I started studying Business Management. However, I had only attended university for four months when I realised sitting in a lecture for hours was a difficult environment for me to learn in, whereas an apprenticeship allows me to bridge the gap between theory and practical work. Fortunately, I landed my apprenticeship with Howes Percival where I have been able to study my Level 3 Business Administration qualification whilst learning the ropes of HR.”
“Now, 10 months into my apprenticeship, I can continue with my education whilst being paid and avoiding university debts and have gained experience in a busy business environment. The apprenticeship has worked hand-in-hand with my day-to-day job as I have been able to apply my studies to my work and vice versa. My team have also been great – they have supported me with my studies and offered guidance to learn more within my job.”
With many new apprentices only just starting their journeys, it will be fascinating to see how their experiences compare to those who have taken the ‘traditional’ route. While it remains to be seen, it is exciting to see the opening of opportunities for those who may have previously viewed university as unattainable and, therefore, put certain careers out of reach.
Developing home-grown talent and improving social mobility in the community is key to growth at Howes Percival.
To find out more about how to build a successful career with one of Howes Percival’s apprenticeship schemes visit the website here
