Partner Article

Top benefits of hiring an apprentice

From increasing your team whilst keeping costs down to giving existing staff more time to take on additional responsibilities, hiring an apprentice comes with numerous benefits for an employer.CMS Vocational Training (CMSVOC), specialists in delivering a range of Government-funded and commercial vocational training and courses, including apprenticeships, explores the multiple advantages of hiring an apprentice.

Providing hands-on skills, knowledge, confidence, training and ultimately a full-paid job, apprenticeships are a great way for people to enter the workforce. Taking on an apprentice also has numerous benefits for an employer. If you’re thinking about hiring an apprentice, take a look at the following ways this mutually beneficial employment process can give your business a boost.

Develop new talent and meet company demands

When an employer takes on an apprentice they have the opportunity to tailor the training the new recruit receives so it is specific to the business’s demands and requirements. According to statistics, 83% of businesses that use an apprenticeship programme rely on the scheme to provide the skilled workforce their business requires for the future.

By developing new talent, an employer will not only be giving the individual the chance to embark on the career ladder, but will also be nurturing talent within the company and ultimately boosting workforce productivity.

Cost-effective and easy hiring process

Another tangible business benefit of employing apprentices is the fact the hiring process is both easy and cost-effective. Being involved in a specialist apprenticeship programme will help you find a suitable apprentice for your industry and business demands, which contrasts to conventional recruitment methods that can be considerably more time-consuming, costly and can’t guarantee you’ll find the right employee.

Furthermore, as apprentices typically start on lower salaries that fully-trained staff, employers can make significant savings on salaries by hiring apprentices.

Free up employee time and give teams’ new energy

By bringing another pair of hands to the team to help do routine tasks and everyday duties, apprentices can be invaluable in freeing up existing employees’ time. With more time at their disposal, current members of the workforce can focus and channel their energies into taking on new roles and responsibilities.

With more time to evaluate their responsibilities and skillsets, staff morale is boosted and teams are left with greater efficiency, productivity and energy.

Give youngsters a career opportunity

During the last five years the Government has been developing an initiative to get more young people into work by helping them undertake both academic and vocational education, including traineeships and apprenticeships.

Taking on apprentices not only helps youngsters enter the workforce but also provides them with the opportunities and tools to fulfil their potential and progress up the career ladder.

Help bridge skills gap

It’s no secret that many businesses have gaping skills gaps that is a significant burden to productivity and the overall bottom line. A survey compiled by HR Magazine found that management and leadership skills were amongst the biggest skills gaps hampering company growth.

By tailoring an apprentice’s training and giving other employees more time to focus and develop their skills, apprenticeship schemes are an effective way for organisations to bridge skills gaps and create a more efficient workforce.

Improve bottom line

According to a report by CEBR for the National Apprenticeship Service, the average apprentice completer increases a company’s productivity by as much as £214 per week.

It stands to reason that being equipped with employees with customised skills, reducing skills shortages within a workforce and preparing and building a more efficient and productive pipeline of workers, apprenticeship programmes make a positive return on investment and ultimately help businesses of many different industries and sizes improve their bottom line.

Bringing a wealth of benefits and opportunities both for the employer and the apprentice, it is hardly surprising that the number annual completions of apprenticeship programmes is forecast to rise across all sectors from 260,000 a year in 2012/13 to 480,000 a year by 2021/22.

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