Anyone trying to get their first job, or who have struggled to gain employment in a field in which they have not worked before, will know that it can be something of a vicious circle – employers do not wish to take on staff who do not already have experience, yet more and more young people are unable to gain experience for this very reason. This could be why apprenticeships have become hugely popular in recent years, a fact which has benefited both the apprentices and the businesses they work for.
According to the latest figures released by the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS), the number of applicants for apprentice roles increased by 41 per cent last quarter. Between November 2012 and this January 267,400 applications were submitted online, while the number of roles advertised increased by 26.6 per cent compared to the same period a year earlier.
Chief executive of the NAS, David Way, believes that employers are experimenting with apprenticeships as a way of bringing a fresh perspective to their businesses.
He says; “More consumers and employers are recognising the benefits of apprenticeships and the value of the high quality training available.
“For employers, hiring apprentices is a way of attracting new talent and developing a motivated, skilled and diverse workforce.”
Certainly, taking on an apprentice or establishing a proper apprenticeship programme in a growing small business is an excellent way of bringing fresh perspectives to the fore, whilst also operating in a cost effective manner – provided, of course, that the amount of work they are given is enough to allow them to grow and learn.
The business administration and customer service sectors have recently become hugely interested in apprenticeship programmes and the benefits they can bring to their businesses.
Professional cookery apprenticeship applications have also soared, thanks in part to the popularity of cookery shows such as the Great British Bake-Off and Masterchef.
HTP Training provides apprenticeships to a range of businesses, ranging from hotel chains to councils in the Hampshire area. Managing director Rachael Fidler cites the financial benefits that small businesses can reap by taking on an apprentice.
She says; “Some SMEs may not be able to afford to advertise vacancies, let alone put in place a robust personnel development process to up-skill existing staff.
“Hiring an apprentice or having an apprenticeship programme means the recruitment and training of staff is undertaken by a training provider cost effectively.
“There is also the £1,500 government grant to support wage costs as a sweetener for organisations looking to secure apprentices.”
Do you think that by encouraging both large businesses and SMEs which are looking to expand to introduce apprenticeship schemes, more young people will be able to gain the skills necessary for successful employment? Should the Government be channelling more energy into apprenticeship schemes as a means of getting the economy moving again, or will the financial issues have to be ironed out before a nationwide scheme could be truly successful?
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