Apprenticeship training – what are the benefits?

This month Cornerstone Resources is focusing on “Supporting the next generation in the workplace”. In this blog, Heather shares her experience of supporting apprenticeships.

With my previous experience working in the automotive sector, apprentices were a vital part of the workforce especially in the service department. Each year, I was part of the apprenticeship scheme this included sitting in on apprentice interviews, recruitment, onboarding and ensuring the apprentices settled into their new role. It is so rewarding to be part of this process, supporting young people into the workforce, helping them learn a new skill, guide them on their journey to success and see them develop within an organisation.

In the 2023/24 academic year in England, there were 736,500 people participating in apprenticeships, with 339,600 apprenticeship starts and 178,200 achievements- What an amazing scheme to be part of. (source -Gov.uk)

This week I am exploring what an apprentice scheme is?  what the apprentice journey looks like and how employing apprentices in the workforce can benefit an organisation.

What is an apprenticeship?

An apprenticeship is a job that combines work with training and study to gain a qualification and develop specific skills. Individuals are employed and earn a wage while learning through a combination of on-the-job experience and formal off the job training. Individuals can gain practical experience alongside experienced staff.

Apprenticeship schemes lead to a national recognised qualification such as an NVQ, technical certificates or degrees depending on the level. While apprenticeships are often associated with school leavers, actually there is NO age limit and even existing employees can enrol on to an apprenticeship scheme to enhance their skills and knowledge.

To be able to enrol on to a basic apprenticeship programme the individual will need:

• To be at least 16 years old
• Live in the country where the apprenticeship is being offered
• Not in full time education
• A CV and cover letter to apply
• Some schemes require at least 5 GCSE’S equivalent to a grade 4 and above, for higher level apprenticeships the individual will need A levels.

Skills for Careers

As an employer choosing the right apprenticeship scheme is a significant decision and needs to be made carefully by all involved. Apprentices who go on the wrong programme are more likely to disengage or even withdraw.

There are many different pathways to choose from such as Health Care, Digital and I.T, Business management, accountancy, construction and many more. Once an employer has chosen the right apprenticeship programme and training provider the process will then begin.

You find that most individuals will apply for an apprenticeship between September and March as this is a time when employers open applications.

Applying for an apprenticeship is like applying for a regular job, places are advertised either via the organisation’s website, UCAS or GOV.UK. Applications may differ depending on the apprenticeship, most applicants will have to submit a CV and attend an assessment centre where the individual will be asked to complete a task on their own or in a team followed by an interview, most organisations will have their own process with this.

If an individual is already employed and wants to develop their skills, then they can speak to their employer who will support them in applying for a degree apprenticeship.

Using the apprentice levy.

Employers can get financial support from the government to cover the tuition fees. For some employers this means that at least 95% of fees could be paid. Indeed with co-funding, you may be able to get the course fully funded! You can find more information on apprenticeship funding by clicking here. What a great opportunity to develop your employees!

So why is offering an apprenticeship scheme beneficial to an organisation?

Offering an apprenticeship can be beneficial for both employers and employees as well as young people who have come out of full-time education and want to learn a new skill and grow in a career. Some key advantages are:

For Employers:

• Apprenticeships schemes allow organisations to train individuals in a specific skill which is tailored to the business needs, ensuring a better fit than hiring and going out to the job market.
• Increased productivity – apprentices are learning on the job and therefore can contribute positively to the organisation as they want to gain as much knowledge and experience as possible.
• Loyalty – employees who are trained internally are more likely to stay with the company long term and grow within the business which supports the organisations retention rates.
• Apprenticeships are a cost-effective way to fill a role and can also support fill roles where there are skill shortages.
• Apprentices can bring new ideas and perspectives to the organisation which could lead to improvements in processes and procedures.

For Apprentices/ employees:

• Gain practical experience and earn a salary while studying – “on the job training”
• Apprentices often have career progression and a path to full time employment within the organisation- “Grow and retain”.
• Apprenticeships often come with little or no cost to the apprentice – so they don’t have to worry about debt.
• Most apprenticeship schemes lead to qualifications and certificates that are recognised across the industry.

Some Interesting Facts:

• 1 in 3 apprentices receive a promotion in their 1st year of completion
• On average an employer can gain approximately £2,000 from hiring an apprentice.
• 90% of apprentices will go into full time employment or go into further training.
• 78% of employers who hired apprentices saw an improvement in their productivity.
• 65% of employers recognise and implement the new ideas apprentices bring to a business.

It’s a no brainer...

Apprentices are a valuable and a positive asset to any team, they bring willingness to learn and an opportunity to shape and retain talent. They can also help the organisation to grow and drive the business values which results to workforce loyalty.

It’s a win- win investment for both employers and apprentice.