By Newspot Nigeria News Desk
UK Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has renewed calls for stronger investment in apprenticeships, describing them as a practical and debt-free pathway to long-term success for young people.
In a statement shared after visiting Virgin Media O2, Badenoch said she still remembers more from her apprenticeship experience than from her university degrees, underscoring the lasting value of hands-on learning.
She praised the company’s apprentices as “bright, ambitious young people” who are building real-world skills while earning an income, noting that such programmes help bridge the gap between education and employment.
According to Badenoch, Level 4 apprentices in the UK now earn more on average than many university graduates, while avoiding the burden of long-term student debt. She emphasized that university remains a valid option, but not the only route to a successful future.
As part of what she described as a “New Deal for Young People,” Badenoch said the Conservative Party plans to create 100,000 new apprenticeships, aimed at expanding access to skills training and economic opportunity.
She added that every young person deserves a real choice in shaping their future, arguing that apprenticeships should be treated with the same respect as traditional academic pathways.
— Newspot Nigeria
