In all industries, securing a strong talent pipeline is essential for long-term success. Business administration apprenticeships are playing a vital role by supporting junior recruitment AND unlocking innovation within teams, functions, and leadership.
Through structured training, apprenticeships help businesses build skilled, agile teams ready to meet changing demands—and spark new thinking along the way.
Apprenticeships as a Foundation for Innovative Leadership
Business administration apprenticeships provide individuals with broad exposure to business operations, communication, and project management. This holistic view of how organisations work gives apprentices the insight and confidence to question existing processes and suggest improvements. With the right support, this curiosity becomes a key driver of innovation.
For employers, investing in apprenticeships is a strategic move—not only to build future managers and HR professionals, but to encourage a mindset of continuous improvement. These apprentices are not just learning how to do things; they’re learning to think critically, adapt quickly, and lead with insight.
The Business Impact: Innovation, Retention, and Growth
The benefits of business admin apprenticeships go beyond skills development. They deliver tangible returns on investment and help foster a culture of innovation:
- 80% of employers report higher staff retention after hiring apprentices
- UK employers see an average gain of £2,500–£18,000 in output per apprentice during training
- 78% of employers say apprenticeships improve productivity
- At IBM, the early professional apprenticeship programme has maintained a 90% retention rate since 2017.
These results show how apprenticeships create a win-win: while apprentices gain valuable qualifications and experience, employers benefit from fresh perspectives that can lead to operational efficiencies, new ideas, and smarter ways of working.
Apprenticeships and the Innovation Potential of Young Talent
Business admin roles are particularly suited to early years recruitment; they provide an entry-level position within an organisation that gives the employee room to grow and develop. Coupled with the Level 3 Business Administrator Apprenticeship, this makes them perfect for young people, just starting their careers.
The government’s Youth Guarantee aims to ensure every young person under 25 can access education, work or training. For employers, this provides an opportunity to engage with a motivated, digital-native generation that brings fresh thinking and adaptability to the workplace.
With an ageing workforce in many sectors, apprenticeships allow employers to future-proof by shaping young recruits into innovators—professionals who understand the business from the ground up and aren’t afraid to ask, “Why do we do it this way?” or “How can we do this better?”
Supporting the Youth Guarantee also contributes to corporate social responsibility and enhances employer branding. And with apprentices in England forecast to contribute £25 billion to the economy over their lifetimes, their potential to fuel long-term innovation and growth is undeniable.
Innovation in Action
What sets business admin apprenticeships apart is their ability to embed innovation into daily operations. By involving apprentices in real-world projects—whether it’s streamlining internal processes, improving customer service, or contributing to compliance and reporting—employers are effectively creating in-house innovation labs. Apprentices bring energy, tech-savvy, and a willingness to challenge the status quo, often spotting opportunities that more experienced staff might overlook.
Their cross-functional exposure also means they develop a strong understanding of how different parts of the business connect—giving them the tools to drive smarter collaboration and more joined-up thinking.
One example is Chris Gelens’ experience at Home Carers; it illustrates how business administration apprenticeships can spark innovation from the ground up. Originally a Senior Carer with no prior office experience, Chris transitioned into an administrative role with the support of a Level 2 Business Administration Apprenticeship. This initial training gave her the foundational digital and organisational skills to succeed and grow in her new environment.
Later, promoted to the role of Compliance Officer, Chris undertook the Level 3 apprenticeship to further build her capabilities. She applied her new skills to lead a review of the company’s customer feedback process, using tools such as Gantt charts to manage the project. Her initiative resulted in a key operational change: shifting from annual to quarterly reviews. This innovation directly improved service quality—complaints decreased, and customer satisfaction scores rose.
Chris’ story demonstrates how apprenticeships enable individuals to challenge outdated processes, lead data-driven projects, and implement changes that have measurable impact. It’s a clear example of how structured learning, when combined with opportunity and support, can turn potential into innovation.
A Smart Investment in Innovation
Embedding business administration apprenticeships into your workforce strategy isn't just a smart way to recruit and retain talent—it's a powerful tool for driving innovation from the ground up. Apprenticeships help build agile, skilled, and future-focused teams ready to meet tomorrow’s challenges today.
Total People are experts at training and upskilling people in business and administration roles. With our support, you can develop the right skills, behaviours and knowledge to spark innovation across your organisation—delivered through an apprenticeship that results in a nationally recognised qualification.
To find out more about our Level 3 Business Administrator Apprenticeship, visit our website or call us on 03333 222 666 to speak to one of our friendly advisors.
