This year we are celebrating the 15th annual National Apprenticeship Week. The theme of the week will be 'build the future', focusing on highlighting the benefits apprenticeships can have on individuals, businesses, and local communities.
There are many benefits to taking on an apprentice in your business, whether it's upskilling an existing employee or recruiting fresh talent, Apprenticeships have the power to give businesses a competitive edge with upskilled teams. They're more popular than ever, and it's easy to see why.
Why are apprentices good for business? We have written a blog post that answers just that question!
With role-specific development programmes and tailored on-the-job training to maximise impact, learners effectively apply their skills from day one of their apprenticeship. You upskill where resources are needed most, and learners apply newly learned skills straight away – a win-win situation for everyone.
Attract new talent - The world of work is evolving faster than ever, so it’s never been more important to secure the best new talent to fill key skills gaps to build a resilient workforce. Apprenticeships are an invaluable tool for talent attraction, supporting businesses with their growth and resourcing strategies to develop a workforce with skills that are matched to a company’s future needs and growth strategy.
Develop industry-leading skills - By hiring an apprentice, businesses gai access to industry-leading training and development tools. Apprenticeships are work-based training programmes developed by employers that work in your sector. They’re designed to keep your business cutting-edge, with training that evolves with the needs of industries.
Diversification of your teams - Diversity is vital to the future growth of any organisation, and creating a rounded workforce is key to business innovation. Apprenticeships boost social mobility, reaching people from diverse backgrounds to open up opportunities for all and diversify the world of work.
Apprenticeships are a cost-effective strategy for skill development that do more than just fill skills gaps. They’re a cost-effective strategy for upskilling too.
Cost-savings on national insurance - apprenticeships offer further opportunities for cost savings for both levy and non-levy paying businesses. For apprentices aged 25 or younger, you don’t need to worry about employer contributions for Class 1 National Insurance (if they earn >£967 a week). The employee still pays their share, so this benefit is purely for employers.
Government incentives for apprentices - employers can access government funds and grants to help cover the costs of apprenticeships and invest in their teams’ future. It means that, more than ever before, apprenticeships are a route employers can use to develop valuable career pathways.
Apprenticeships improve retention - apprentices stay. There are widespread benefits of apprenticeship for employees – training doesn’t just upskill learners in their roles and increase their confidence. Apprenticeships are mapped to internal career progression, providing structured pathways that improve retention across all roles and sectors.
If you are wondering what role an apprentice could fill in your business, here is a handy guide from National Apprenticeship Week to give you some inspiration!
Are you thinking about bringing an apprentice into your business? KMHR Solutions can assist with the process, contact us on hradmin@kmhrsolutions.co.uk for more information.
