young entrepreneurs<\/a> are reshaping what success looks like for this generation,\u201d he says. \u201cSocial media, school outreach and employer transparency have armed students with more information than ever before. Today\u2019s students are more financially conscious and career-savvy; they want real-world experience, financial independence and faster progression.\u201d<\/p>\nFor young people taking the bold move to work from 16, the advantages are clear. They enter the workforce with zero debt, earn from day one and gain real-world experience while their peers are still in classrooms. By the time their university peers enter the job market at 21, apprentices already have up to five years of industry experience, established professional networks and clear progression paths within their sector.<\/p>\n
However, it\u2019s not all positive. Sidwell cautions that the early career path can feel \u201cnarrower\u201d initially, with young people required to be \u201cconfident\u201d in their chosen career direction.<\/p>\n
As managing director of the specialist site Not Going To Uni, Conor Cotton believes the Gen Z cohort entering the workforce have a very different view from that of their parents.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe attitude towards apprenticeships has changed. They are no longer viewed as \u2018second best\u2019 or a back-up plan; they\u2019re now seen as a credible and valuable route into skilled careers,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
With more employers opening up career opportunities for GCSE leavers, Cotton feels these organisations are \u201cshaping the future workforce\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen GCSE leavers are supported with the same care, development and culture as any other new hire, they go on to become some of the most loyal, skilled members of your team.\u201d<\/p>\n
How to hire a school-leaver with a degree of ambition<\/p>\n
Considering hiring school-leavers at 16? Here are the top tips for employers from Oliver Sidwell, co-founder of higherin.com.<\/p>\n
Invest in people properly from day one. This is about building your future workforce. The employers that get this right see exceptional loyalty and performance because these young people will genuinely grow up within your company culture.<\/p>\n
Create structured onboarding and mentorship programmes. Pair each new hire with an experienced colleague who can guide them through both the technical aspects of the role and workplace norms. Remember, for many of these young people, you\u2019re their first professional experience \u2014 what you teach them about work culture will stick with them throughout their careers.<\/p>\n
Set clear expectations and provide regular feedback. At 16 to 17, these employees are incredibly adaptable and eager to learn, but they need guidance on professional standards and performance expectations. <\/p>\n
Think long-term with progression pathways. Map out realistic career development routes and communicate these clearly. Show them where they could be in two, five or ten years.<\/p>\n
Be prepared to challenge preconceptions within your organisation. Some colleagues might initially underestimate what these young hires can contribute. Create opportunities for them to showcase their skills and fresh perspectives. Often, they\u2019ll bring exciting insights.<\/p>\n
\u2018It\u2019s a debt-free route into a respected profession\u2019![\"Portrait](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/\/f6298746-4382-44e2-8cb9-94c6f4bb16cd.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Jordan Smith joined a chartered accountancy practice after finishing his GCSEs<\/p>\n
On finishing his GCSEs aged 16, Jordan Smith joined the chartered accountancy practice Whitings LLP as a trainee accounts technician through the specialist apprenticeship provider First Intuition. He started a Level 2 AAT apprenticeship in September 2018 and progressed through to the degree equivalent Level 7 apprenticeship, completing his ACA accountancy qualifications in July last year.<\/p>\n
Now 22 and a fully qualified senior accounts technician, Jordan, from March in Cambridgeshire, said: \u201cThe apprenticeship has massively boosted my development. I\u2019ve gained a vast amount of experience while working and studying, and it\u2019s all been funded by my employer.<\/p>\n
\u201cA Level 7 accountancy apprenticeship is a no-brainer. It\u2019s a debt-free route into a highly respected profession, with real experience and top qualifications along the way. The apprenticeship has opened up so many doors. I\u2019m ready to take on more responsibility and grow my value within the firm.\u201d<\/p>\n
Working week<\/p>\n
AI-generated receipts are difficult to detect
It may be the most innovative use of AI in the workplace yet, as finance professionals warn that tools such as ChatGPT are being used to create fraudulent expenses receipts. New research shows nearly a third of finance professionals are unable to identify fake AI-generated expenses, and a third of firms have encountered them. Gary Hall from Medius, which conducted the study, said: \u201cWe\u2019re at a tipping point. When AI-generated documents are indistinguishable from the real thing, legacy finance systems simply can\u2019t cope.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2018Epiphany\u2019 posts are turn-off for top talent
C-suite staff are being warned that their LinkedIn posts could lessen their chances of hiring top talent. Kate Morgan, an executive recruiter at Boston Human Capital, explains: \u201cAs leaders, promoting yourself authentically matters but the flood of dramatic \u2018epiphany posts\u2019 on LinkedIn can backfire. When every minor moment becomes a staged lesson with a glamour shot, it can come across as self\u2011absorbed. Potential hires are watching, and posts that feel performative can make top talent question whether your company is the right place to grow.\u201d<\/p>\n
Men\u2019s health policies absent at large firms
While most large employers offer specialist women\u2019s health support, a new report from Brightmine shows there is a long way to go to reach equality for men\u2019s health. Despite 69 per cent of employers running at least one initiative to support men\u2019s health, not a single organisation surveyed had formal men\u2019s health policies in place. Stephen Simpson, a spokesman, said: \u201cWhile mental health and menopause support have gained traction in recent years, men\u2019s health continues to lag behind.\u201d<\/p>\n
Miserable millennials \u2018too old\u2019 to retrain
Two in five millennials want to change careers but believe they are \u201ctoo old\u201d to retrain, a new study suggests. Men are more likely than women to stay put, with seven in ten feeling like they\u2019re stuck in their job until retirement, the Nottingham Trent University research found. Staff in research, pharma and engineering are the most miserable in their career. However, two thirds say they would remain in their role if their employer invested in their development.<\/p>\n
Appointment of the week<\/p>\n
The South Bank Employers\u2019 Group is recruiting five new members to its board of directors. The member-led, not-for-profit company coordinates and directs significant collective investment across the South Bank and Waterloo neighbourhood, making it an internationally important destination, economic powerhouse and neighbourhood with diverse business, residential and student communities.<\/p>\n
The new appointees will need the right skills and experience to ensure that the South Bank Employers\u2019 Group works towards its vision, achieves its corporate goals and objectives, and supports and enhances the work of the team.<\/p>\n
You do not need to be based in the South Bank area to be a board member but will need to demonstrate why you are interested in the opportunity.<\/p>\n
Applications are welcomed from candidates with diverse skills and backgrounds, and the South Bank Employers\u2019 Group is particularly keen to hear from candidates with experience in sustainability, marketing, human resources and legal.<\/p>\n
To apply, visit appointments.thetimes.com<\/a> for full information. The deadline for applications is 5pm on Monday, September 22.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Economic uncertainty and changes in the world of work have resulted in one in four A-level students opting…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":65733,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[84,1371,56,54,55],"class_list":{"0":"post-65732","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-jobs","8":"tag-business","9":"tag-jobs","10":"tag-uk","11":"tag-united-kingdom","12":"tag-unitedkingdom"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65732","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=65732"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65732\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/65733"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=65732"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=65732"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=65732"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}