Between 3-9 Febraury, the Skills Support for the Workforce (SSW) team will be celebrating National Apprenticeship Week 2020. We are celebrating the promise, opportunities for growth, diversity and value that apprenticeships bring to employers. 

Did You Know: 

• Apprenticeships are a fantastic way to upskill a current workforce
• Recognising and improving skills leads to increased motivation and innovation in the workplace
• An apprenticeship encourages employees to think of their job as a career and to stay with the company for longer, which in turn reduces recruitment costs
• Offering an apprenticeship to an existing member of staff shows that a business sees them as an integral part of the workforce and are happy to invest in their future

Below, we delve into 5 benefits that an Apprenticeship could offer your business, regardless of size: 

1) PROVIDE SKILLED WORKERS FOR THE FUTURE

Apprenticeship training helps employees to improve their skills, which will benefit the company in the long term.

An apprenticeship will also ensure that the skills developed are matched to the company’s future needs.

This will help fill any skills gaps and allow the business to source future managers and leaders from within. 

2) MOTIVATE & EMPOWER YOUR WORKFORCE 

Employees who have been trained in-house tend to be highly motivated, committed to the company and supportive of its business objectives.

An apprenticeship encourages employees to think of their job as a career and to stay with the company for longer, which reduces recruitment costs. Offering an apprenticeship to an existing member of staff shows that you see them as an integral part of the workforce and are happy to invest in their future. 

3) INCREASE YOU COMPANY'S BOTTOM LINE

Investing in staff trained through apprenticeships has a positive effect on a company’s finances, making it more competitive.

Training your current staff ultimately saves on recruitment costs. You won’t have to invest in recruiting new staff as employees become more capable

4) REVITALISE YOUR WORKFORCE & BECOME AN EMPLOYER OF CHOICE

By embarking on an apprenticeship, staff are showing a willingness to learn, encouraging new ideas into the company.

Apprentices come from a range of backgrounds (including high-calibre candidates who can bring fresh insight into your business activities.)

Staff who receive training feel valued by the investment in their development - and confident that they are an important to the business.

A company that is willing to invest in people by supporting apprenticeships is showing a positive approach to Corporate Social Responsibility. This is good for attracting both customers and future high-quality staff and being seen as an Employer of Choice.

5) INCREASE IN-HOUSE PRODUCTIVITY

With the new skills acquired staff can put these into practice. It might make them re-look at a task or even give them new ideas.

It can mean a small amount of time spent out of the business but the new skills and knowledge more than make up for it.