|
According to a recent YouGov poll, the average British consumer is more likely to buy from a business if it offers apprenticeships. Carried out on behalf of the National Apprenticeship Service, the study asked 2,000 consumers what factors they considered when buying products or services. Around 84% preferred a business that helped young people into jobs through work-based training schemes. Based on the findings, Simon Waugh, Chief Executive of the National Apprenticeship Service, said businesses stand to benefit from apprenticeships in a variety of ways. Time to invest in Britain’s up-and-coming workforce “In the current economic climate, businesses want to stand out from the crowd and offering apprenticeships is one way of doing this. But this isn’t the only benefit that hiring an apprentice can bring to a business. We know from previous research that 80% of employers agree that apprentices make their workplace more productive,” he said. The National Apprenticeship Service recently launched its new ‘Good for Business’ initiative, which seeks to increase the number of apprenticeships available to 16-to-18 year olds in England. Kevin Brennan, Minister for Further Education, Skills, Apprenticeships and Consumer Affairs, said he hoped the initiative would inform employers from all sectors about the value an apprentice could add to a business. “It is more important than ever that UK business supports the nation’s young people by providing them with opportunities to get into the world of work, and it’s encouraging to see that doing this can have such a positive impact on a business’s bottom line,” he added. On-the-job training is an ideal way for firms to build a competent workforce, as they can ensure their employees have the exact skills and experience required for the jobs in question. Apprentices are also more likely to gain a deeper understanding of company values and remain loyal to their employers. Setting solid foundations Aker Solutions, a global provider of engineering and construction services, relies on its apprenticeship programme to develop future talent. The company recruits six new apprentices every year into its Stockton-based operation, where they are trained to work in either project control disciplines or as design technicians. Margaret Mason, HR advisor at Aker Solutions, said training people from a grassroots level had many advantages. “By investing in the training and development of people who are joining our company now, we know that we’ll have a good core of skilled people to take Aker Solutions forward well into the future. “One way of doing this is through the apprenticeship programme, which brings a huge range of benefits for employers of all sizes and sectors. We have experienced everything from improvements in the quality of our work, though to higher staff retention, increased competitiveness and better succession planning,” she added. A foot in the door Rachael Palmer, a 21 year old from Middlesbrough, joined Aker Solution’s apprenticeship programme after taking A Levels. Three years later, she is a design technician at the firm. She has no regrets about choosing a work-based scheme over university. “An apprenticeship is a fantastic way to get your foot in the door of a company and work your way up by learning and earning at the same time. And unlike some of my friends who went straight to university, I have no student debts to worry about and already have a heap of experience under my belt,” she said. John Wayman, regional director of the National Apprenticeship Service said more firms should recognise the fact that today’s young people will be the business leaders of the future – and that it pays to invest in their potential. “We need to take a longer term view of our skills base by investing in high quality training and development, such as Apprenticeship programmes, right now,” he advised. With Careers and Jobs, you can view all the latest jobs, browse UK jobs by sector and keep up to date with the latest UK jobs news. You’ll also find expert career advice and help with CV writing to help land that dream job.
Related Articles -
jobs,
|
