The benefits of apprenticeship schemes to employers

Most business will agree that a company’s most valuable asset is a highly motivated and well-trained workforce.

Hiring an apprentice is an effective way to grow talent and develop a productive and qualified team.

There are many benefits of apprenticeship schemes and our valued employers, from large multinationals to SME’s, explain what the key benefits are for their business goals.

Build key skills and bridge the skills gap

Apprentices are the future according to Gary Holden, Apprenticeship Manager for a Sodexo Pharma client in the North West contract in Macclesfield.

He said: “We hone the learner’s skills to what is needed, we develop people who have the right attitude and mindset and give them the skills that they can go on to fulfil key roles within the company.” 

He added: “We need to bring talent through.

We have an ageing demographic across the country and if we don’t invest in our workforce now, we’re going to have skills gap in the next five to 10 years, especially in engineering.

Support career progression and improve staff retention

Cheshire Constabulary have several Total People apprentices gaining qualifications in Level 3 and Level 5 Human Resource Management, while also working towards achieving their CIPD qualifications, and also an Associate Project Manager Apprenticeship.  

Katy McInnes, an Apprenticeship Coordinator, said: “Apprenticeships provide existing staff with an opportunity to develop their careers by gaining qualifications and progressing into senior roles whilst continuing to work. 

This return on investment enables us to develop and retain a skilled workforce that will help our organization to grow.

Create future leaders 

The Village Nursery Group is passionate about providing their staff, as well as children at their nurseries, with the best learning opportunities possible by investing in their workforce through apprenticeship schemes.

Rebecca Moore, Operations Manager, said: “If apprentices are given the right environment to learn and grow they will indeed be the future leaders of our Early Years settings. Whilst knowledge is exceptionally important so is the hands-on experience that we can provide to these young learners.”   

Future proof your business

Chartered surveyors Fifield Glyn recruited a Total People accounting apprentice as a way of strengthening their existing team. 

They said: “As a business, using the apprenticeship framework allows us and our staff to benchmark their skills against external professional standards and bring in new ideas for improvement, change and more efficient working practices.

We need to be able to not only service our existing business, but also to ensure we are well prepared for new challenges and business opportunities as they arise, and we feel that the apprentice scheme helps us to do this.

If you’re looking to gain these benefits or more through one of our apprenticeships, you can find out more and sign up on our dedicated Employers page or call 03333 222 444 to speak to one of our expert team.