Luton school-leaver shares how apprenticeship opened doors to accountancy career

A 23-year-old from Luton has shared how an accountancy apprenticeship helped him enter the finance industry without a university degree, as new research suggests six in 10 people leave school without enough information about their options.

Javin Ramkissoon recently completed a two-year apprenticeship with the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT), which is urging young people to consider vocational routes into careers in business, accountancy and finance.

His experience features in AAT’s new ‘More than numbers’ campaign, which aims to highlight alternative routes into employment and encourage young people to explore opportunities beyond university.

Research commissioned by the organisation found 59 per cent of people felt only slightly or not very well informed about their options after leaving school.

More than two in five people (41 per cent) also did not know it was possible to become an accountant without a university degree.

Javin said: “AAT was the perfect choice for me. It gave me the opportunity to get a start in the accountancy world as a school-leaver, having no prior accounting background, nor any degree.

“Having the ability to do a two-year Level 4 AAT apprenticeship also meant I could get a good feel for the industry and know whether this was the direction for me.

“My research showed that as well as being a recognised qualification which I could use and go on to do other things with, it also opened doors for further studies.”

The campaign comes as the Government looks to expand vocational education.

AAT is providing free online resources throughout October and November to help young people explore their options, including an interactive course to develop business skills, a skills passport to identify transferable abilities and a webinar explaining how to start a career in finance.

The organisation is also calling for careers guidance and skills reforms to make vocational pathways more visible and accessible.

Its research found 53 per cent of people considered university very prestigious or respected, compared with just 11 per cent for apprenticeships.

However, practical skills (35 per cent) and work experience (32 per cent) were more likely to be seen as factors in career success than a university degree (10 per cent).

AAT chief executive Sarah Beale said: “Every day, I see how AAT opens up opportunities for people from every background. Yet our research shows the scale of the information gap facing young people as they make decisions about their future.

“Action is needed now to ensure young people are aware of all the pathways available that can help them achieve their ambitions.”

She added: “We urge the government to follow through on its commitments and ensure people can see the full spectrum of vocational opportunities, including the many routes into a variety of jobs and careers that sit between the ‘hard hat’ and ‘graduation cap’.”

AAT currently supports more than 20,000 students aged 16 to 23 across the UK. Its qualifications do not require previous qualifications or experience, providing an alternative route into accountancy and finance for school-leavers.