Six in ten people say they left school feeling only slightly or not very well informed about their post-school options, according to new research commissioned by the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT).
Making vocational routes more visible
AAT has launched its More than numbers campaign to help young people explore careers in business, accountancy and finance. The organisation says the free resources available through October and November include an interactive eLearning course, a skills passport and an on-demand webinar on taking the first steps towards a career in finance.
“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.”
Sarah Beale, Chief Executive, AAT.
What the research found
The polling found that 41% of people did not know it is possible to become an accountant without a university degree. More than half (53%) viewed university as very prestigious or respected, compared with 11% for apprenticeships.
Practical skills and work experience were both more commonly seen as factors in career success than a university degree: 35% cited practical skills, 32% work experience and 10% a university degree.
Support for young people
AAT says it supports more than 20,000 UK students aged 16 to 23 and assesses over 80% of UK accounting apprenticeships. It is calling for skills reforms to make the full range of vocational pathways more visible and accessible.
Source: AAT. Research was conducted by YouGov among 2,065 UK adults on 9–10 September 2026.
