All About Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships can be a fantastic way to grow your team. To find apprentices, it is key that you think about the timing of when you advertise and interview. During peak exam seasons, typically May to June, students are less likely to have the time to fill out applications or be available for interviews. We suggest that you start thinking about whether your organisation could benefit from an apprentice now to get ready for when exams are over.
If you’d like to have a chat with us about how we can support you during this process, please do get in touch.
Could an apprentice be right for you?
Apprenticeships can be a great opportunity for both you as an employer and for the apprentice. You can recruit apprentices at many different levels whilst also getting help from the government to fund their training. Incorporating apprentices into your team can help develop a skilled, qualified and motivated workforce. Most apprentices, after completing their qualifications, go on to become extremely loyal and committed employees who have helped shape the growth and future of organisations for decades after they first joint the organisation.
Here are a few of the many benefits of taking on an apprentice:
– The positions can be tailored to your business needs.
– They can increase productivity.
– As a part of their apprenticeship there may be a business improvement project unit. This will create an opportunity for fresh eyes to look at an existing process or activity and make recommendations. In some cases improving efficiencies and reducing costs.
– For many organisations apprentices are seen as a cost effective way to help grow and invest in the business’s future.
– They can bring a breath of fresh air and new innovative ideas to your organisation.
– There are different training providers to suit different business needs, whether a college environment or bespoke tailored in-house support.
Incentives and funding opportunities
If you are looking to take on an apprentice, it’s important to know what support there is available to you, as the employer. Depending on eligibility, you may receive incentive payments and for a non-levy* paying business, you could receive funding towards the training of your apprentice.
At Sue Willmott HR and Careers Consultancy we are passionate about the value apprenticeships can add to your organisation and to the growth and development of the individuals involved. We work with schools and colleges, meeting many young people who would like to explore apprenticeship opportunities with local employers. We can invite you to or represent you at careers fairs and introduce you to your future workforce. If you are interested in recruiting an apprentice, please do get in touch with us to find out more.
* The Apprenticeship Levy started in 2017. All employers with an annual wage bill of £3 million or more will pay 0.5% of their wage bill into the ‘pot’.
For non-levy paying businesses, when it comes to recruiting an apprentice, you will pay just 5% towards the cost of training and assessing an apprentice, the rest is paid by the Government up to the funding band maximum. You can find out more here, or contact us and we will go through your eligibility with you.
Sue Willmott
– Owner & HR and Careers Consultant for Sue Willmott HR & Careers Consultancy.
I am an Associate Member of the CIPD. I hold an MA in Human Resource Management and an ILM Level 5 Coaching and Mentoring. We are Matrix Accredited and a member of the Careers Development Institute.
You can contact me here:
