Businesses are hiring more apprentices. Many find that it is a cost-effective way to recruit and train employees. Employing an apprentice has many benefits, from improving productivity to bringing new skills to your company. It’s no surprise that many UK-based businesses are turning to this route.
Apprentices can add valuable skills to your workforce, whether you are looking to hire a new employee or upskill existing staff through an apprenticeship program.
We will be looking at how to recruit apprentices and discussing some of the benefits that you can get from hiring them. We’ll also be discussing how you can improve the skills of your employees through an apprenticeship programme.
What is an Apprentice?
Apprentices are employees that receive training along with their operational duties. In other words, they get paid time off to study for a formal qualification. The career choice and the level of the apprenticeship will affect the type of qualification that they choose to study.
Their employer provides training on the job for the apprentice. This allows them the opportunity to grow in their chosen profession while also adding value to your business. After their apprenticeship, they will be proficient in the job, and should have earned a formal qualification.
Many apprentices are offered full-time employment by the company they were working for during the apprenticeship. Others will move up to other positions or learn more apprenticeships.
Is it worth investing in an apprentice?
Are you thinking of hiring an apprentice? Your apprenticeship will require you to provide on-the-job training for your apprentice and to allow your apprentice to finish a formal qualification.
The benefits of hiring an apprentice include productivity improvements within your organization and new skills that can be brought to your business. This makes it attractive for many employers to hire an apprentice.
It is important to remember that you will need to make a commitment when you start your search to find an apprenticeship. This means that you will need to offer on-the job training as well as time for your apprentice’s formal qualifications to be completed during working hours.
Employers generally agree that the effort of hiring an apprentice is worthwhile, despite the inconvenience. What are the benefits to hiring an apprentice? Learn more.
What are the benefits for employing apprentices
It is a cost-effective way to build a skilled, motivated workforce. With the UK government investing money in apprenticeships, it is also an economical way to expand your talent pool. This is why apprenticeships are so appealing to employers.
Let’s examine some of the key advantages of hiring an apprenticeship.
1. Acquire new skills
Apprentices are a great addition to your business. In addition to bringing new ideas and perspectives, they can also improve your skill set through formal education that they will receive alongside their employment. 86% of employers said that apprenticeships allow their employees to learn skills that are useful to their business in a recent survey. This makes it a good way to increase your workforce’s skills and expand your business by hiring apprentices.
2. Your productivity will increase
Employing an apprentice is a cost-effective and efficient way to increase the workforce of your business. This is because an apprentice’s minimum wage is usually lower than a regular employee. It is also due to the training they receive. An apprentice can increase productivity in your organization without costing a lot. Research has shown that apprenticeships can increase productivity by as much as 80%.
3. Find new ideas
The new staff brings new enthusiasm for their role and new ways to think. The best thing about new staff is their ability to generate new ideas and see things from a different angle. This has led to around three quarters to employers saying that apprentices are helping them improve the quality their products and/or services. If you are looking to bring new ideas into your business, an apprenticeship might be the best way to do it.
4. Motivate employees
Employees are more likely to be committed to their job if they feel that they are being helped to grow professionally. This can lead to a rise in motivation, increased productivity, and better performance. Who doesn’t want motivated staff, right?
5. Tailored to your company
It’s a great way of adding a new employee to your business. By allowing you to adapt the training for your apprentice to fit your business needs, you can help your new employee act and think the way you want. This ensures that they don’t inherit bad habits or other negative behaviors from other businesses, and they can live and breathe your business.
6. Long-term business strategy
While it may be more work for the apprentice in the short term than you would like, it will help you prioritise your long-term business strategy. Because apprentices are often eager to learn the business of your business, they can quickly start adding value to your organisation. They will quickly become a valuable asset to the business and allow you to devote your time to other areas of the company. This is why it’s so effective to hire an apprentice to help you plan for the future.
7. Retention can be increased
Many business owners are guilty of spending too much time training or hiring new staff. Only to find out that they have left the company months later. This is a wasteful time investment that can end up costing your business thousands each year. A good way to improve employee retention is to hire an apprentice. Apprentices are loyal and more loyal than other types employees. A survey by the National Apprenticeship Survey showed that apprentices had a positive effect on staff retention in 69% percent of companies.
