Benefits of taking on an apprentice
Trade apprenticeships don’t just benefit the person learning. There are also many good reasons for businesses to take on a trade apprentice.
Develop skills. Apprenticeships let you create a skilled workforce that fits your business. By training apprentices, businesses can make sure they get the skills and knowledge needed to do well in the job and help make the company successful.
Cost-effective. Because they have little or no experience, apprentices are usually paid less than fully qualified workers, making them a cost-efficient choice for entry-level jobs.
Loyalty. Apprentices are likely to stay with a business after their training ends. Companies can create a motivated and loyal workforce by allowing workers to learn new skills and get qualifications.
Business planning. Hiring an apprentice lets employers plan for the future and make sure they always have skilled workers. As experienced employees retire or move on, apprentices who have completed their training can step into higher roles.
Tailored training. Apprenticeships let you design training courses that meet your business needs. You can create the apprenticeship curriculum to focus on the skills, knowledge and techniques most useful in your industry and company.
Fresh ideas. Taking on a trade apprentice brings fresh ideas and a different point of view to a business. Apprentices are usually excited to learn and take on new techniques and ways of working. This helps progress your business and stay on top of the competition.
Good reputation. Employers that offer apprenticeship courses have a good reputation in their industry and community. Showing an interest in developing skills and supporting the next generation can help the business look better and make more people want to work there.
How do I take on an apprentice?
Trade apprenticeships need some planning, and there are factors to consider.
All apprenticeships are arranged through the government’s apprenticeship service. Before taking on an apprentice, you’ll need to make an account. The apprenticeship service account is where businesses manage funding, post vacancies, choose a training course and provider, accept apprentices, select tests, give feedback and more.
Once you’ve made an account and are ready to take on an apprentice, these are the steps you should follow.
- Think about apprenticeship needs
Consider what skills and roles you need in your company where an apprentice could help. Think about any tasks, responsibilities and qualifications needed for the apprenticeship job. This will help you create the apprenticeship course and bring in good people. - Research apprenticeship courses
Look at the apprenticeship courses in your local area — the government’s official apprenticeship website can help. Make sure you understand what people need to do to get onto the apprenticeship, funding options and any apprenticeship rules to follow. - Choose a training provider
Choose a training provider to deliver the classroom learning and the off-the-job training parts of the trade apprenticeship. Look at the expertise, reputation and relevance of different training providers in your industry. You’ll need to work with the training provider to create a course that meets your business needs and qualifications requirements. - Advertise the apprenticeship
Advertise the apprenticeship position so people can apply. Make sure you clearly outline the role, responsibilities, skills and qualifications needed for the apprenticeship. - Interview and choose apprentices
Shortlist applicants and host interviews to see if they fit the apprenticeship job. Make sure to look at their qualifications, skills, motivation and how they fit into the company. Working with the training provider in the interviews can also be helpful to ensure they meet the training course requirements. - Make an apprenticeship agreement
When you have chosen an apprentice you should make the apprenticeship agreement. This agreement should explain the job and responsibilities of the apprentice and business, how long the apprenticeship will last, the training plan, wage and other terms and conditions. - Provide training and support
You should give the apprentice hands-on training and advice. Assign a mentor or supervisor who can support them and check their progress. Make sure the apprentice gets all the resources, tools, and equipment needed to meet their training requirements. - Check progress and assessments
Regularly test and check how the apprentice is doing in the trade apprenticeship. Work with the training provider to set tests and reviews of the apprentice’s skills. This will help find any areas the apprentice needs to improve and make sure they meet the learning objectives needed to pass their end-point assessment (EPA). - Finish the apprenticeship and certification
When the apprentice has finished the trade apprenticeship and met the required skills, they will get an official qualification or certificate. With some trade apprenticeships, passing the EPA and completing the apprenticeship will also mean an official authorised body recognises the apprentice.
It’s important to remember these steps may change depending on where you are located and the industry you work in. You should speak to apprenticeship authorities, training providers and legal experts in your area to make sure you meet apprenticeship rules and get the most up-to-date information on programmes.
