Are you thinking of taking on an apprentice? Small-to-medium-sized businesses, not just large firms, can access and benefit from this (often overlooked) resource of an apprenticeship.

Sometimes, businesses are put off from hiring an apprentice because they are:

• concerned about having enough time to manage them
• unsure how to identify the correct programmes
• not confident about how to manage the administration

Another big roadblock is the idea that apprenticeships are only available for certain sectors, or more suitable for trades, and so it’s unlikely that there will be something to suit your business.

This is NOT true!

Apprenticeships can be tailored to you. With over 800 apprenticeship standards to choose from, there is lots of variety. Additionally, lots of apprenticeship training providers will work closely with the employer to ensure that the course is tailored to match well with what the apprentice will be doing in the workplace.  

Seeing is believing. Businesses already utilising apprentices know they are worth the effort as the benefits massively outweigh the cons. The Open University Business Barometer Survey found that, in 2023, 86% of businesses running apprenticeships were planning to maintain their numbers of apprentices or increase them over the next year.

Advantages for Businesses

Apprenticeships are good business sense. Launching an apprenticeship programme at your organisation has huge benefits for the employer – here are some of the common ones that employers see:

1. Increase employee satisfaction: Staff who are encouraged to progress in the workplace are more likely to be satisfied with their role and the business overall.
2. Improve retention rates: In today’s business market it is essential to retain skilled talent and reduce turnover. Apprenticeships encourage loyalty and enable staff to stay at your business for longer because they can build up their career. The St Martin’s Group survey (conducted in 2021) found that 65% of apprentices continue to work at the company which trained them after their course is complete.
3. Save on costly recruitment drives: Hiring an apprentice you can train to learn the skills you are looking for can be a cost-effective way to bring in new talent.
4. Diversify your workforce: Give someone an opportunity to step onto the career ladder within your industry via a different route.
5. Improve morale: In The St Martin’s Group survey, 73% of employers said staff morale is better after bringing in apprentices.
6. Create a strong employer brand: Develop a reputation as an employer who wants to upskill and nurture staff.
7. Gain fresh perspective: Apprentices learn new techniques and up-to-date sector knowledge that they can then bring to your business.
8. Increase business productivity: Even during training, apprentices deliver a minimum return of £2500. In some instances, according to the same St Martin’s Group survey, the return could be as great as £18,000!
9. Hands-on training: Apprentices apply their knowledge from the outset.

And the big one … Closing the Skills Gap

Currently the UK has a huge skills gap. The Open University Business Barometer Survey from 2024 found that 62% of organisations are facing skills shortages. A significant amount is in digital skills but, across a variety of sectors, there are different areas of skills shortages. It’s estimated that by 2030 a large portion of the UK workforce will be ‘under-skilled’ for their roles. Overall, skills gaps are contributing to lower productivity and slower economic growth.

Utilising apprenticeships is one way of closing the skills gap and future-proofing the UK workforce.

What’s in it for the Apprentice?

Aside from the immense benefit for the employer, apprenticeships have wonderful advantages for the apprentices themselves:

• Learning job specific skills
• Earning a nationally recognised qualification – some are the equivalent of an undergraduate or master’s degree
• Earning a wage while learning
• Gaining practical experience
• Forming professional networks
• Increasing potential future earnings
• Starting on a career path  
• Enjoying employee benefits

Who Can Be an Apprentice?

Anyone over the age of 16 can be an apprentice! The idea that apprentices are for school and college leavers is a misconception.

There is no upper age limit for apprenticeships, although there are some limitations to government funding for those who are over 25.

Additionally, apprenticeships are not just for new staff, existing staff could complete an apprenticeship to take the next step in their career.

There are over 800 apprenticeship standards to choose from, from entry level to management.

How are Apprenticeships Funded?

Funding is available for businesses of any size. However, depending on the size of your business, this will either be direct support from the government or making use of the apprenticeship levy.

Smaller employers can be covered by the government for 95%-100% of training costs. SMEs will pay up to 5% of training costs. There are also some grants available for Construction Industry training.

The levy is a tax on employers which is invested in workplace training. Businesses with a payroll of over £3 million put 0.5% of the payroll into an apprenticeship account and the government adds another 10%. Businesses can then use this funding for an apprenticeship through an approved training provider.

It’s really important to stay up to date with what funding is available as it does vary year to year.

Forming a relationship with a reputable training provider can be a great first step – they will then be able to support you on your apprenticeship journey.

Sam, our owner and founder, is a trustee at BCOT – Basingstoke College of Technology. Their apprenticeship team, Aspiral Learning, is one of the largest providers of apprenticeships in the region – from construction to engineering to beauty and barbering or Early Days Education, there is something for everyone. On their site you can also find a very useful Guide to Apprenticeships produced by the UK government.

Another great one near our vivoHR offices for all kinds of digital apprenticeships – from cyber security and software development to multi-channel marketing and business administration – is Basingstoke ITEC. They have been providing apprentices to businesses across the south (including the University of Oxford, Hart District Council and Southampton City Council) for 40 years!

Your Responsibilities as the Employer

There is a great overview on the Apprenticeships website of the training (both ‘on the job’ and ‘off the job’) you will be expected to give your apprentice, plus various helpful guides for employers.

The key elements of a successful programme include:

• Clear expectations and goals
• Mentorship and support
• Regular feedback and progress reviews
• Access to resources
• Opportunities for professional development
•  A sense of integration and belonging
• Consideration of well-being
• Engagement with the wider team
• Evaluation and areas for improvement

Ideally you should regularly review the apprenticeship programme’s effectiveness so that you can make adjustments where needed to optimise the learning experience. 

Apprenticeships aren’t just training – they’re a smart investment that will give your business a real competitive edge. With strong government support, a wide range of programmes and proven benefits – from higher productivity to improved staff loyalty – the advantages speak for themselves.

Is now the time to future-proof your workforce and grow your own talent?

For advice and support for launching an apprenticeship, give us a call on 01252 757359 or drop us an email at hello@vivohr.co.uk.