Why employ an apprentice?
The benefits are clear to see
For a small business it can be difficult to see how employing an apprentice could help you and your business,
A breakdown of how apprentices can help your business grow
Apprenticeships can be tailored to specific job roles, making them flexible to the needs of your business. The added advantage is that you will effectively train a new employee to think and act in the interests of your business from day one, knowing that they haven’t already picked up any bad practice from previous roles.
Injecting some apprentice talent into your business can add a new dimension to your workforce, bringing with it a fresh perspective and new ideas. This in turn can help existing employees and spark an overall boost in business productivity. The National Apprenticeship Service website states that 96% of employers that take on an apprentice report benefits to their business. It also states that 72% of businesses report improved productivity as a result of employing an apprentice.
As well as boosting productivity, apprenticeships can also help companies to compete in the modern marketplace. In industry research, 77% of employers agreed that taking on apprentices helped to make their organisations more competitive. It also found that more than 80% of customers prefer to buy from companies that employ apprentices.
Apprenticeships are a cost effective form of training. The majority of the training is completed on the job, which means whilst they are training the job is still being completed. As experience based learning is fundamental to the success of the apprenticeship, the more you can show and support them, the more effective they will be and the more value they will add to you and your business long term. With the cost of training being covered by the government funding, it really is an effective way to build a skilled workforce. The apprentices have access to the most current training methods and have some of the best training facilities. From a support point of view along with you their employer, they will also have industry specific trainers and in some cases mentors to help the apprentice achieve the best possible level of skills, knowledge and behaviours.