Can an Apprenticeship be Better than University?
Automotive apprentices can earn more than recent university graduates. The 2005 national average earnings show that a graduate service technician in an advanced apprentices programme earned £19,000.
These national averages do not adequately reflect the earnings potential within particular specialisms for example a Master Technician in a prestige automotive brand can earn in excess of £40,000 and receive the use of company car, likewise panel beaters in London and the South East average in excess of £22,000.
This level of earnings is comparable with those earned by university graduates who no longer command the ‘graduate premium’ to their salary. In addition, going to university is expensive. Student tuition fees and the cost of living away from home and other associated costs can be high but are not required on an apprenticeship. In 2005 the Natwest estimated that the average student spends £28,600 during a 3 year course and leaves with average debts of £13,600 a total cost of over £42,000. Contrast this with a graduate technician apprentice who with good productive skills could be earning around £19,000 with no debt burden and the cost of their apprenticeship having been borne by the government, manufacturer and employer.
The high levels of responsibility and empowerment apprentices can achieve during their career are a big driver to many who see commerce as a career venture. The average parts manager manages stock in excess of 10,000 lines and to a value over £100,000, a Service Manager in an average workshop of 7 technicians will manage a cash receipts in excess of half a million pounds. A Dealer Principal in a major volume franchise will be responsible for a turnover that runs into the tens of millions and for a team of around 50-100 staff. These are not small jobs and ably demonstrate the opportunities that a career in the motor industry can generate.
