Originally Posted by
msbbarratt
RR recognised the need for a strong education programme long ago, and has a centre in Derby specifically for it. It's pretty good and competition to get on their apprenticeship scheme is strong. Quite a few large companies do this kind of thing here in the UK, having realised that mainstream education is no longer focused on churning out youngsters with good technical skills.
Apprenticeships are increasingly seen as a better idea compared to degrees. Getting on to a good apprenticeship scheme means you're earning a salary, building up pension, getting a college education, and being tailored to be a very useful employee with excellent prospects. Going to university means being saddled with £40k+ debt, 3, 4 years less pension, likely still learning on the job and possibly starting underneath someone who did the apprenticeship.
Of course in the UK Rolls Royce now has to pay somewhere about £10 Million in Apprenticeship Levy to the govt unless it runs a large apprenticeship program. They did anyhow but it's definitely a poke in a particular direction for large companies.