Engineering Design, Apprenticeships & Diversity.

Abstract

This paper reports on a study that set out to understand the backgrounds of apprentices studying Engineering pathways at one FE College in the UK where an integrated programme of qualifications from level 2 to level 7 exists. The research presented here follows on from a previous study that suggested diversity was very low across the programme and that progression opportunities to level 4 and above, that is, Higher Education are not evenly distributed across the socio-economic groupings. The findings are presented in the light of relevant literature indicating concerns nationally and across sectors about Apprenticeship opportunities not being fairly distributed across socio-economic groupings. The report concludes that there is a relationship between those from lower socio-economic groups being more likely to engage with craft type qualifications which do not offer progression possibilities to Higher Education than those from higher socio-economic groups who are more likely to engage with technical qualifications. The report makes suggestions for further investigation related to careers advice and suggests some interventions that might increase the diversity of the engineering Apprentice population.