Almost half (44%) of businesses in the country plan to take on apprentices in the next five years, according to new research (1) released today to mark the start of National Apprenticeship Week.
This compares to just over three in ten (36%) employers when asked the same question this time last year. (2)
The study of 600 businesses also reveals that one fifth (20%) of SMEs plan to take on one or more apprentices in the next 12 months alone, with more than a third (37%) of larger businesses planning to do the same, compared to 15% and 28% respectively in February 2013.
Around a third (32%) of those that plan to take on apprentices say this is because they are a core part of their growth strategy.
Ahead of a visit to BT, who recently announced that they would take on 730 more apprentices over the next year, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, Vince Cable, said:
“As we kick off National Apprenticeship Week it’s good to see that employers are increasingly recognising the value apprentices can bring to their businesses. Apprentices are now a key and valued part of the workforce for most businesses large or small – and the huge increase which this Government has overseen is one of my proudest achievements.
“Given the grants available to help small businesses take on apprentices, it’s especially good that so many SMEs are embracing apprenticeships in the coming years and that apprentice recruitment now forms a key part of a businesses’ plans for sustainable growth.”
Gavin Patterson, Chief Executive of BT, said:
“BT’s creating more than 700 new apprenticeships in the coming year, including a new digital media technology training scheme. I’m delighted we can play an extremely positive role by hiring these new apprentices and advancing their skills through mentoring and training.
“Apprenticeships really deliver for our business. Hiring apprentices helps BT grow our own talent by developing a motivated, skilled and qualified workforce. And for the apprentices, an Apprenticeship is a way for them to earn while they learn in a real job, gaining a real qualification and a real future.”
The study also shows how Apprenticeships are growing in popularity. In fact, 43% of employers agree they would be more likely to offer an Apprenticeship than they were two years ago. Of these nearly two in five (38%) said this was because the talent pool had widened as Apprenticeships become more popular, 33% because it had become easier to employ apprentices and 32% because they have more job roles in their business that would suit an apprentice. Overall, 41% of employers agreed that apprentices stay in the business longer than other recruits.
Furthermore, it would appear Apprenticeships are now filtering into supply chain selection criteria. Nearly one in five (16%) SMEs and over a third (37%) of larger organisations say they have been questioned by clients or prospects about their apprentice recruitment policies.
This finding is mirrored in a supplementary study amongst some of the companies featured in the latest City & Guilds Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers List. Key findings from the bosses surveyed include:
· 93% advocate apprentice recruitment through their supply chain
· 78% say they would be more likely to choose a supplier or partner if they too offered Apprenticeships, with 18% of these saying apprentice recruitment is already part of their selection criteria
Now in its seventh year, National Apprenticeship Week is designed to celebrate Apprenticeships and the positive impact they have on individuals, businesses and the wider economy. The overarching theme for 2014 has been Great Apprenticeships, to demonstrate that Apprenticeships are great for business, personal careers and create opportunities for both employers and apprentices.
As part of the Week, the National Apprenticeship Service, in conjunction with Small Firms Enterprise Development Initiative (SFEDI), has launched a new initiative to help small business owners on their Apprenticeship journey. Apprenticemakers is an online peer to peer mentoring community providing easy access to other businesses who have already taken on apprentices. www.apprenticemakers.org.uk
