National Apprenticeship Week

If you don’t currently use apprentices in your business, why is that? Apprenticeship training is available for a huge range of different types of roles, professions and skills, so it might be something worth looking at.

Apprenticeships enable you to grow your talent pipeline for the future, by setting long-term business plans around your training and development strategies focusing on the skills your business needs. Employing apprentices also gives a great opportunity to upskill your current employees as they train, coach and mentor the Apprentices.

I have employed Apprentices and found it important to treat them in exactly the same way as full-time employees, they have a permanent role and are paid the appropriate salary and benefits, in return the Apprentices are engagement with the business and excited about the future.   They were provided with stability which enabled them to learn on the job and help them grow as people and professionals.  Having completed their apprenticeships they are still at the same company continuing to learn by studying higher qualification and increasing their roles and responsibilities to continue growing to enhance their careers. I used our levy to pay for the training course so it didn’t not cost anything for them to achieve their qualification and they have become a valued member of the team. 

Alternatively offering a fixed term Apprenticeship whereby they attend college for the duration of the apprenticeship course during term time and put their theory into practice in your business you are helping them cultivate their career. If an Apprentice impresses you during their apprenticeship, perhaps they can become a full-time employee.

Both scenarios above presents your business image not only as a good employer but a preferred employer.

A recent study published by City & Guilds finds apprenticeships are considered a better alternative to higher education, but more needs to be done to promote their benefits. Most adults in England think apprenticeships are better than higher education for skills development and preparing for future careers – but the majority would still choose going to university over doing an apprenticeship, according to research.

A study of 2,000 adults in England found that apprenticeships are considered a better alternative to higher education when it comes to value for money (57 per cent vs 5 per cent) and longevity of skills (39 per cent vs 13 per cent). Nearly three-quarters (73 per cent) of survey respondents said apprenticeships were good at preparing young people for their future careers, compared to just 52 per cent who said the same for undergraduate degrees.

But despite this, half of respondents admitted they would still consider university as a route to develop their workplace skills, with just 30 per cent saying they would undergo an apprenticeship to upskill. There continues to be a stigma attached to taking an apprenticeship, even though there is an apparent understanding of the benefits. If you pay the Apprenticeship Levy the cost of training is covered without any additional investment for your employees development, so apprenticeship training is a great way for you to upskill existing staff, fill the skills gaps and grow your business

Why not check out your local Apprenticeship Provider as well as finding suitable Apprenticeship courses. Do you know how your Apprenticeship Levy works efficiently for your business?