As #NationalApprenticeshipsWeek draws to a close, we wanted to highlight some interesting facts about hiring an apprentice and bust a few common myths around this topic too.
What is an apprenticeship?
An apprentice is employed to do a real job within your business, whilst studying for a nationally recognised qualification. Apprentices engage in comprehensive training programmes, which give the employee an opportunity to learn on the job and receive training, whilst earning a salary.
Key benefits of hiring an apprentice
Apprenticeships are suitable for people at any level so you can hire someone new or upskill an existing employee, allowing you to grow talent and develop a motivated, skilled and qualified workforce. They help you to:
- Build a culture of learning and development.
- Enjoy higher staff retention and morale.
- Promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
(Apprenticeships.gov.uk)
Upskilling your workforce
You can use apprenticeships to upskill and retrain your existing workforce. You can use apprenticeship training to:
- Fill key skill gaps in your business.
- Boost employee motivation by investing in their development.
There are apprenticeships from level 2 to level 7 (equivalent to a degree) so you’ll be able to find apprenticeships that suit the learning and development needs of your employees. Apprenticeships are designed by employers so they reflect the relevant knowledge, skills and behaviours that your business needs.
Common Myths debunked
Isn’t it expensive to hire an apprentice?
No. If you are a smaller employer, you are eligible for government funding which will pay between 95% and 100% of the apprentice training costs. If you are a large employer, you can use your levy to pay for your apprenticeship training. (Apprenticeships.gov.uk).
Use the below funding calculator to give you an idea of how much it would cost your business to hire an apprentice:
https://www.apprenticeships.gov.uk/employers/funding-an-apprenticeshipI don’t have the time to support the apprentice.
The training provider will support you and the apprentice through each step of the process and will always be on hand to answer any specific questions you may have along the way.
Apprenticeships are only for school leavers.
Apprenticeships are available for anyone over the age of 16 and approximately half of the apprenticeships are started by people aged 25 and over, according to 2020 government data. However, apprentices can be of any age, they are perfect for individuals who want a change of career later in life or those returning to work after a break in employment.
How do I find out how an apprentice could work for my business?
There are some great organisations in our region that can help with apprenticeships such as:
Local colleges
However, if you want some advice on which organisation would be most suitable for your business then please get in touch with us & we will introduce you to the right person.
We hope this helps & do let us know if you have any other questions regarding apprenticeships.
Related
Comments
Nobody has commented on this post yet, why not send us your thoughts and be the first?
