As thousands of students across the North collect their A-level and BTEC results, many will be weighing up what comes next. University remains the traditional route for some, while others will consider apprenticeships, employment or further training. Whatever path they choose, one thing is clear: young people want the most appropriate and accessible skills to prepare them for the realities of working life.

Young people want education to reflect the workplace

BDO’s research suggests that young people want businesses to play a bigger role in shaping their future. According to our Young Minds 2026 report, which surveyed 2,000 people aged 18 to 25, one in five young people in Yorkshire (20%) believe businesses should have greater influence over the curriculum, to help ensure students leave education with skills that employers are looking for. Meanwhile, almost three in ten (29%) think greater financial incentives would encourage more businesses to offer work experience, apprenticeships and graduate opportunities.

The findings come at a time of government education reforms, including proposals to introduce subjects such as manufacturing and artificial intelligence alongside core academic learning. This reflects the growing recognition that the skills needed by today's employers are evolving. The challenge now is making sure those reforms translate into genuine opportunities for young people.

Building stronger links between education and employers

Change will require closer collaboration between government, education providers and employers.

Businesses understand the practical skills they need, while schools and colleges provide the foundations that allow young people to develop and succeed. Bridging those perspectives can help ensure students leave education better equipped for the world of work, whether they choose university, an apprenticeship or another route.

The Prime Minister has spoken about reducing the number of young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET). Achieving that ambition will depend on more than policy announcements. Employers need the confidence and support to invest in early careers, while young people need clear information about the full range of opportunities available to them.

We believe Yorkshire's mid-sized businesses have an important role to play. Collectively, the ‘mid-market’ employs more than one million people in the region, support local communities and contribute significantly to the regional economy. By offering work experience, apprenticeships and graduate programmes, they can help bridge the gap between education and employment, while building the workforce they will need for the future.

The value of apprenticeships

The value of apprenticeships is increasingly being recognised, and rightly so. They allow young people to gain professional qualifications while earning a salary and developing practical experience from day one. They also offer employers the opportunity to nurture talent and address long-term skills shortages.

This is particularly relevant for industries such as professional services, where misconceptions still exist about the routes available into the profession. Many students continue to assume that university is the only option, despite school-leaver programmes providing an alternative pathway that combines structured learning with hands-on experience.

Turning ambition into opportunity

Many organisations are already demonstrating what that commitment looks like. At BDO, for example, we anticipate we will have supported more than 8,200 young people across the UK through work experience, careers insight programmes and virtual placements this year. We are also continuing our work with the social mobility charity, Access Accountancy, to improve access to the profession for people from lower socio-economic backgrounds.

For Leeds-based audit trainee Dani Trickett, who joined our school-leaver apprenticeship programme in 2022, the route has provided both professional qualifications and practical experience. She is on track to qualify this year.

She said: "During school, I never knew accountancy apprenticeships existed. There is so much information and guidance given to students looking to go to university, but that path isn't right for everyone. Working alongside studying has helped me develop technical knowledge, problem-solving skills and a much better understanding of how businesses operate."

Empowering Yorkshire’s future workforce

As this year's cohort of students receives their results, the conversation should not simply be about grades. It should be about ensuring every young person can see a clear route into a rewarding career.

Creating those opportunities will take sustained collaboration between government, educators and employers. If Yorkshire gets that partnership right, it will not only help more young people fulfil their potential but also strengthen the region's economy for years to come.

Dan Brookes is interim Regional Managing Partner in Yorkshire & the North East and Sponsoring Partner for Social Mobility and Citizenship at BDO