Sarah Sanderson

Five Hull apprentices at Spencer Group have completed combined work and study programmes with first-class honours degrees. They say earning while learning provided practical experience, financial security and a clear career path. The achievement is presented alongside Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s plans for new vocational courses and bursaries aimed at reducing the number of young people not in education, employment or training. Employers argue that construction and other technical industries need to attract more academically qualified students, while the University of Hull maintains that traditional university study remains a strong option. The contrasting views reflect the wider debate over whether young people should pursue degrees, apprenticeships or other routes into employment.