Apprenticeships really are good for business

Apprenticeships have been around for, well, a few thousand years at least, and they’ve been valued by those traditional industries that regularly use this route for skills development for a similar amount of time.

But what about everyone else?

Not everyone will train in engineering & construction, those industries synonymous with apprenticeships but there’s a growing list of other apprenticeships available for all occupational disciplines at all levels from entry level to higher degree level to match the resurgence in interest for a work-based alternative to traditional learning routes.

When I left school a, erm, few years ago I wasn’t draped in the glory of academic success & I spent some time undertaking a variety of jobs that provided an income but not the stimulation I needed to light my hitherto unknown spark, but during a period of working as a labourer in an engineering factory I found an occupation that excited me.

My boss saw potential and an engineering apprenticeship followed. During that period of learning & discovery everyday bounced.

I loved the work, albeit very physically & mentally demanding. I loved the smells. I loved the banter, & most of all I loved finding an application for the maths & science I studied at school.

Our individual learning style is unique & having a choice of post 16 education & skills pathways is necessary to ensure that we all have an opportunity to reach our potential.

The new suite of apprenticeship standards offers a work-based alternative to further & higher education that importantly has parity of rigour & grade, & apprenticeships are open to people of all ages above the age of 16.

These include the traditional sectors of engineering & construction along with catering, hospitality, finance, sales, administration, healthcare, police, nursing, paramedic, solicitor, management, teaching, the list goes on & can be viewed here

Recruiting new apprentices or upskilling existing colleagues through the apprenticeship programme allows you to continually develop the skills you need in your business ensuring your succession & competitive edge.

I’m sure that many of you are already employing apprentices but I’m equally sure that many of you won’t be.

Funding apprentices is also relatively straight forward.

If you’re a levy paying employer, you’ll have an annual salary bill of over £3 million & your levy payment covers or contributes to the cost of apprenticeship training. If you’re not a levy paying employer 95% of the cost is paid by government with a 5% contribution from you to pay directly to your training provider partner.

There’s also an incentive payment currently available for employers recruiting apprentices between April 1sts 2021 & September 30th, 2021. Don’t worry if you haven’t claimed this, you have until November to make your claims, but if you’re currently recruiting you must have your apprentice on payroll by the end of this month to qualify.

Speak to your apprenticeship training provider as they’ll be able to help you, alternatively give me a call & I’ll happily help.

Most of us have a subconscious ‘white belt’ approach to continuous learning & development & we often miss the opportunity to benefit from the courses available to us because we’re weary of the commitment required & disruption to working patterns.

Apprenticeships are a great way to develop knowledge, skills, behaviours & experience within the workplace & apprentices can quickly display these attributes & skills creating an ongoing & lasting benefit to your business whilst developing naturally occurring evidence that will support & count towards their apprenticeship.

Apprenticeships really are good for businesses of all sizes & disciplines & importantly they’re good for those undertaking them.

I hope you have a good week

Cheers

Noel