How cam hiring an apprenticeship help your small business?

[Natasha Overton]

People choosing to do an apprenticeship now stands at a record level, there were 491,300 apprenticeship starts in the 2016 to 2017 academic year of which 121,250 were under 19.
There were 1,656,630 online apprenticeship applications made in 2015 to 2016.

So if so many businesses have taken on apprentices, how could it help yours?

Well, Apprenticeships have been said to help businesses boost productivity by bringing in new talent that quickly helps to grow your skills base. According to gov.uk , 76% of businesses say that productivity has improved as a result of employing an apprentice.

They also provide a wide range of new ideas. Since they will be doing on-the-job training alongside existing staff, as well as external training with a learning provider, they will constantly be up-to-date with social and technological trends as well as motivating other members of staff with their fresh mindset!

Plus who wouldn't want bespoke employees? Helping an apprentice realize their potential and supporting them through their training means you get a "grow your own" member of staff at the end of it. 67% of apprentices stay with the same employer after completion.

 

[Noah]

Cam they help prevent typographical errors?

 

[Natasha Overton]

I'm sure they can haha! I did try to correct my error but it was too late.

 

[Mr D]

1.6 million online apprenticeship applications?
That's a lot from such a small island chain.

No use yet for an apprentice. Perhaps when we have a dozen staff or so.

 

[Stedurham]

Every one I’ve ever had leaves before he finished, latest ones just left to go and do pointing all over country on £140 yes £140 a day

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

You need to know that the candidate is offering some sort of commitment for you to invest in his or hers future

 

[billmccallum1957]

As long as all apprentices stay in Lincolnshire and join business forums, great stuff.

 

[Newchodge]

Can a small business afford to take on an apprentice?

 

[Mr D]

Can a small business afford to take on an apprentice?

Oh yes.
Its one of the more common ways into certain trades. Quite a number of small businesses in the trades that take on apprentices.
Has to be able to handle training them and effectively for a time absorbing the loss of work and materials used. Unless can be reused. Blacksmith would find that easier than chef.

 

[Redd]

Tried to take on one last year but Landscaping wasn’t part of the “apprenticeship scheme” or something along they lines.....

Ended up taking on a young lad at 16 and paying him minimum wage. Turned out ok but would have preferred to take on 2/3 apprentices and pay then low and increase wages as they learnt.

 

[Natasha Overton]

Can a small business afford to take on an apprentice?

yes! If you are a levy payer you don't pay towards the apprenticeship but as a small business i would assume you are non levy and therefore its just a 5% contribution.

 

[Natasha Overton]

Apprentices also don't have to be trade work, there are so many different types of apprenticeships from business administration to digital marketing and healthcare support workers!

 

[Newchodge]

yes! If you are a levy payer you don't pay towards the apprenticeship but as a small business i would assume you are non levy and therefore its just a 5% contribution.

I was thinking more about the huge time and effort that is needed to properly train an apprentice. An apprentice costs much more in time than they give back in productiveness, certainlt in the first few months.

 

[Newchodge]

If you are a levy payer you don't pay towards the apprenticeship

Well, apart from the levy payment of course!

As a matter of interest, what is your professional involvment with apprentices?

 

[Natasha Overton]

I was thinking more about the huge time and effort that is needed to properly train an apprentice. An apprentice costs much more in time than they give back in productiveness, certainlt in the first few months.

Apprentices will need some time to be trained on certain areas, however with ourselves they get visited once a month by an assessor who will go through through their actual apprenticeship work and support the apprentice meaning the time you would spend training them is the same as what you would spend on hiring a normal new member of staff.

 

[Natasha Overton]

Well, apart from the levy payment of course!

As a matter of interest, what is your professional involvment with apprentices?

I am a marketing assistant with a training provider and have also recently finished an apprenticeship myself.

 

[Mr D]

Apprentices also don't have to be trade work, there are so many different types of apprenticeships from business administration to digital marketing and healthcare support workers!

Yes some of us have come across the multiple types of apprenticeships including cheap staff taken on as apprentices without much support.

 

[Newchodge]

I am a marketing assistant with a training provider and have also recently finished an apprenticeship myself.

Thank you.

 

[Newchodge]

Apprentices will need some time to be trained on certain areas, however with ourselves they get visited once a month by an assessor who will go through through their actual apprenticeship work and support the apprentice meaning the time you would spend training them is the same as what you would spend on hiring a normal new member of staff.

If you do a search on here for threads about apprentices, I think you may find there is a mixed reaction to them, with many seeing them as cheap labour, then being surprised that they are not productive from day 1.

 

[bodgitt&scarperLTD]

Tried to take on one last year but Landscaping wasn’t part of the “apprenticeship scheme” or something along they lines.....

Ended up taking on a young lad at 16 and paying him minimum wage. Turned out ok but would have preferred to take on 2/3 apprentices and pay then low and increase wages as they learnt.

Did exactly the same as you- same trade also.

Not a lot of difference between minimum wage at 16 and apprentice wages, plus we didn't have to worry about any of the paperwork bollocks.

The kid was great. He learned quickly, earnt me a lot of money and had pay rises from the second month. Sadly he had difficult family circumstances, and ended up moving to be back with his dad several counties away.

He also learnt more than he would have on any college course- but only because he showed an interest and I receiprocated that by taking the time to show him how to do things properly. Helped that he was a smart kid and to be honest I couldn't see him staying working for anyone long term- he was just like me when I was his age.

God I feel old now.