The benefits of employing apprentices were revealed in a Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr) report released earlier this week. It found 5 million consumers prefer to do business with apprentice employers, whilst the typical apprentice is estimated to deliver productivity gains of over £10,000 per annum
Even more young people will be able to ‘get in and go far’ with an apprenticeship, as more than 23,000 new apprenticeships have been pledged by employers as part of National Apprenticeship Week.
From BT committing to hiring 700 apprentices, Microsoft Partners announcing plans to recruit 3500, Halfords pledging 500, Greene King announcing 2000 vacancies and the Royal Air Force 1000 pledges have been made by hundreds of businesses around the country. Other companies that have pledged new apprenticeships include Boots, Cap Gemini, Barratt Developments, Travis Perkins, Kwik-Fit, The Kier Group, British Airways, The Civil Service, Aldi, Network Rail, B&M Bargains, Santander and Amey. Lloyds Banking Group also announced that it is to recruit 100 higher apprentices this year.
A number of the businesses pledging new apprenticeships are small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). This includes Derry Building Services, Berthon Boat Company and Paw-Fect Grooming.
Traineeships, which give young people the work preparation training, English, maths and work experience needed to get an apprenticeship or other job, also got a boost during the Week. Employers including BT and the BBC announced plans to offer more traineeship opportunities.
The benefits of employing apprentices were revealed in a Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr) report released earlier this week. It found 5 million consumers prefer to do business with apprentice employers, whilst the typical apprentice is estimated to deliver productivity gains of over £10,000 per annum.
Business Secretary Vince Cable said: “The success of National Apprenticeship Week 2015 and these 23,000 pledges highlights just how popular apprenticeships have become.
“More and more young people, parents, teachers and employers are recognising the value of learning on the job. With apprenticeships in everything from rail engineering to TV production they really are now a fast track into a successful career”
Skills Minister Nick Boles said: “Apprenticeships deliver for employers, young people, adults and the economy. The vacancies announced this week will provide life-changing opportunities for prospective apprentices across the country as well as helping businesses to unlock their potential. The continued commitment by employers to offer traineeships will also enable thousands more young people to prepare for their future careers.”
Key events during the Week included a launch event at the London Eye attended by Vince Cable. The Business Secretary met employers and apprentices and spoke about the future of apprenticeships. A Made by Apprentices event at the House of Commons, hosted by Jason Holt CBE and attended by Skills Minister Nick Boles, focused on the benefits that apprentices can bring to small businesses and showcased some of the products and services created by apprentices working for SMEs.
Apprenticeships in the banking, legal and insurance services sectors were the focus of a reception hosted by the Deputy Prime Minister at Admiralty House on Wednesday, while a ‘thank you’ reception for Trailblazer employers involved setting the new apprenticeship standards took place at Elstree on Thursday. It was announced at the event that more than 200 new employers have joined the 1,000 plus organisations already designing apprenticeships.
