Apprenticeships were once something that was associated with certain types of trades. These days though there is apprenticeship schemes in all types of businesses as more and more employers see the benefits of them. This growth in the availability of apprenticeships has been encouraged by the UK government because they can see how this type of scheme is great for the economy and for society as a whole. It seems almost certain that in the future there will be even more businesses that offer this path into full-time employment. In the rest of this article we will examine how apprenticeship schemes benefit both the business owner and the apprentice.
The Benefits of Apprenticeships to the Apprentice
The majority of apprenticeships will be young people who are struggling to find their place in the work force. These are people who may have good educational experience but will not have the necessary work experience to make them attractive employees. This means that they can find it hard to get their foot in the door of most jobs. An apprenticeship is ideal for these people for a number of reasons:
• An apprenticeship scheme gives apprentices the opportunity to learn on the job. They will be in the best position to pick up the skills and training they need to make them attractive employees. The type of training that an individual can pick up actually doing a job is of a different calibre then they can pick up on a college course.
• The advantage of the training provided during an apprenticeship and what might be picked up on a course are that the employer is in control. This means that the apprentice should pick up the exact skills that are needed for a certain business. The fact that the training is so work orientated should improve the chances of finding work at the end of the apprenticeship.
• As an apprentice the individual will be paid to train. The fact that they are receiving payment will not only make life easier for them, but it is also a great confidence builder. To feel that we are earning our money is a great way to build self-esteem.
• One of the biggest disadvantages that young people have when applying for jobs is lack of experience – an apprenticeship remedies this situation.
• Working as an apprentice means getting lots of support by people who understand a job. Who better to advise the apprentice than those who are already experienced in a certain type of work?
The Benefits of Apprenticeships to the Employer
If it were just the apprentice who benefited from these types of schemes it would be unlikely that they would be so popular. There are actually many benefits to the employer and we will consider these here:
• The employer gets to take over the training of the apprentice and this means that they can give them the exact training that they feel will benefit their type of business. In the past there were many employers who claimed that traditional training courses did not prepare people for the world of work but these schemes are the solution to this.
• Using apprentices can mean that a business will save a lot of money by not needing to hire so many skilled staff. They will be able to train apprentices to fill these roles and this will be a far more cost-effective way of doing things.
• One of the other benefits of having apprentices is that it can actually motivate other staff members to be more productive. By helping and spending time with the apprentice they will pick up on their eagerness and motivation and that way the apprentice can have something to teach the rest of the team.
• An apprenticeship scheme adds new blood to a business and at the end of the day will improve the effectiveness of the company. Apprentices certainly add value to businesses and this is why there are so many such schemes now up and running.
There are great benefits of apprenticeship schemes and it is a win-win situation for both sides of the equation. These days competition is harder than ever in many industries but having apprentices on board is always going to be a great asset.
Call us and find out how we can help you. Contact Robin Mead on 0800 018 0590 rmead@payplus.co.uk
