Partner Article

Employers urged to recruit apprentices

Employers in the North West are being urged to take on more apprentices after figures from the National Apprenticeship Service revealed applications are increasing by a third, year on year.

Despite this growing popularity, many employers are still unaware that they can access funding to support apprenticeships, according to a leading training provider.

PHX Training, which has training centres across Lancashire and Cumbria, said a number of business owners did not know the cost of training is covered by the government, or that they could be eligible for an apprenticeship grant of £1,500.

Others did not realise that the apprenticeship funding available can be used to develop current employees as well as new recruits.

Dan Scott, managing director at PHX Training, said: “Apprenticeships have experienced a real resurgence in recent years, and employers working with apprentices are experiencing first-hand how this can grow talent, improve efficiencies and add skills to the workforce.

“However, there are still lots of employers who aren’t aware that they can access funding and they are missing out on the benefits as a result.

“It’s fantastic to see applications rising as it indicates that apprenticeships are fast becoming the route of choice for talented individuals. Now we would urge businesses to explore the different options available to them to help meet the demand with a suitable supply of roles.”

Training programmes available through the PHX Training network include IT, management, team leading, business and administration, hospitality, and health and social care.

Learners have the option of taking up a programme which leads to qualifications such as ITQs, NVQs or other recognised qualifications at relevant levels.

The government’s projected investment in apprenticeships over the 2013-14 financial year totals £1.566billion. Currently, around 100,000 employers in the UK offer apprenticeships, which cover more than 170 industries and 1,500 job roles.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by PHX Training .