The Benefits of Apprenticeships for Employers

In the UK, there are thousands of apprenticeships available in many different sectors, including the STEM industry. Apprenticeships allow young people to learn through on-the-job training – they will get a monthly salary like a full time employee whilst also having dedicated study during the week.

This unique approach to learning has become beneficial for businesses over the years as it allows employers to positively impact the future of their companies, and produces great results.

· 92%of companies that have taken on apprentices believe this leads to a more motivated and satisfied workforce

· 86%said apprenticeships helped them develop skills relevant to their organisation

· 80%have seen a significant increase in employee retention

Data from Apprenticeships website

In addition to the statistics above, an overall benefit of hiring an apprentice is that the company can help to shape an individual from the beginning of their career journey to align with their company values, as well as being an employee who has a deep understanding of the skills required to succeed.

Employers can train future leaders and managers internally

Recruitment can be time consuming and costly but hiring apprentices can solve that problem for employers when they are thinking about filling vacancies. The hired apprentice would have been learning on the job from day one, therefore they would be a suitable candidate for more senior positions in the company in future.

Hiring apprentices builds a culture of learning and development

Since an apprentice still has days where they are studying and completing assignments, this aspect shows that a company is committed to supporting their employees with learning and development. Having apprentices in a business can also encourage other employees to participate in training so they can upskill, resulting in them being able to contribute more to the company.

Apprenticeships help the individual develop transferable skills

Although an apprentice may be learning about the skills required for a particular section of a company, the hands-on nature of an apprenticeship will give the apprentice the chance to develop transferable skills that would make them suitable for more than one area of the business. This is a huge benefit for employers, as the apprentice becomes a valuable asset who can function in multiple operations of the company.

Apprentices can bring a fresh perspective to a business  

An apprentice is an individual with a fresh pair of eyes who is eager to learn and thrive in a company. This means they will have new ideas to bring to the table, ideas that the business may not have considered previously. It’s easy to have systems in place that have been used for years, but with industries constantly changing, employers that hire apprentices would be able to have access to new concepts and suggestions that a brand new person coming into the company would be able to offer.

Apprenticeships give companies outreach opportunities with educational institutions

There are many young people that are thinking about going down the apprenticeship route as an option for them after finishing school. Businesses that invest in apprentices have a great opportunity to partner with schools to reach out to these types of students, which opens the door for a company to have a long-lasting impact on a young person’s professional life. Working with educational institutions gives employers the chance to attend career days and to conduct presentations to young people who want to find out more about working for their company.

Here at EDT, we work with businesses on our fully funded Insight into Apprenticeship Scheme for students aged 15-18. This 6-month hybrid extra-curricular course is aimed to inspire and inform students about the apprenticeship route to a career in STEM. This programme provides the opportunity for young people in the Scottish Highlands, Herefordshire, Birmingham and Coventry to connect with local industry and understand the value & benefits of an apprenticeship, whilst supporting them to prepare and make informed career choices. 

If you are interested in working with us to showcase your company’s apprenticeship opportunities, please get in touch at apprenticeships@etrust.org.uk

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