5 Benefits of Employing an Apprentice
According to the Institute of Apprenticeships, since 2021, there has been a 180% increase in students expressing an interest in apprenticeship opportunities via UCAS. The actual number of students enquiring in 2023 was 430,000 so there is definitely a demand there! At Swarm Training we have seen a similar increase in enquiries for apprenticeship courses reflecting this growth in demand.
However there is still a shortage of apprenticeship places available; perhaps because businesses are uncertain of the apprenticeship benefits for employers. Here, we answer some of your questions about why you should consider taking on an apprentice for your organisation.
1. Funding
Make use of the government funding available, to train your staff.
If you’re a levy-paying employer, you can use the funds in your account to pay for apprenticeship training and assessment (up to a funding band maximum)
If you’re a non-levy paying employer, you can share the cost of apprenticeship training with the government.
You can learn more about funding on the Government website or by talking to a member of the Swarm team. (NB the apprentice salary and some other costs such as travel costs, are the employer’s responsibility)
2. Save on Recruitment Costs
By upskilling your current workforce, you save money on hiring new employees. If your business needs have changed; perhaps your organisation is growing or changing direction, apprenticeships are a great way of developing the skills of your staff to account for new demands, without the need to recruit new employees.
3. Improve your Service Offering
Apprenticeship training helps staff to develop skills directly related to their job, as well as soft skills like communication, professionalism and confidence.
“Lauren has recently started displaying a more tailored and solution orientated approach to employee queries, which is fantastic for our team’s profile and reputation. She is also a fantastic support to myself and our team, offering insightful ideas and contributions to projects and challenges.” Mia Bannister, Lauren’s employer at CSM Sport and Entertainment.
Becki is doing the HR Support Level 3 course with Circle Health Group:
“The content of the course is helping Becki recognise and deal with certain situations with more confidence” Sally Goodill, Circle Health Group.
In a 2017 Government Survey the most frequently mentioned benefits of employing an apprentice were “developing skills relevant to the organisation (86%), followed by increased productivity, product or service quality and staff morale which were each cited by three-quarters of employers.”
4. Staff Motivation
Apprentices come from all backgrounds and all age groups, so they are not just for school leavers.
Putting your current staff on an apprenticeship programme can help to retain staff. Investing in staff training makes employees feel valued. Evidence shows that well trained staff become more motivated and therefore productivity may improve.
In a 2017 Government Survey evaluating apprenticeships, 78% of employers reported an increase in productivity as one of the benefits of employing an apprentice.
Motivated staff should mean they are less likely to leave, therefore saving you costs on recruitment.
5. Tailored to the Business
86% of employers said apprenticeships helped them develop skills relevant to their organisation (iFate)
The key apprenticeship benefits for employers are that the training relates directly to the role of the apprentice. The content of each course is regularly reviewed and contributed to by peers within the industry to ensure it meets the needs of businesses. Therefore, your apprentice will be learning skills and knowledge that they can easily adapt to your organisation. Because you will be supporting the apprentice with training opportunities, you can provide real-life examples of work for them to complete, which directly link to the course.
“By using the structured Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours (KSBs), Kavita has been able to introduce a number of changes into the business. Kavita’s now naturally displaying most of these KSBs without trying. I’ve found (whether good or bad) that I’m putting more time into Kavita’s development than other team members. I would take on more apprentices as a result of this experience.” Russ Smith | Driver Development Team Leader National Express
If you are interested in recruiting an apprentice, or putting one of your current staff on an apprenticeship programme, just get in touch with Swarm Training so we can tailor a solution for your business.
Call us on 0800 086 8199 or email us at enquiries@swarmgroup.org.uk
