Large enterprises and organisations aren’t the only ones who can reap the benefits of apprentice employment. Nowadays, employers from all types of businesses, including SMEs, can also benefit from having an apprentice in their workforce.
Employing an apprentice is a great way for businesses to develop skilled and dedicated staff. By investing in your apprentices, you can help shape the future of your industry while also improving your own bottom line. In this blog, we’ll explore some of the many benefits of apprentice employment and provide some tips on how to maximise them.
Benefits Of Apprentice Employment
We’ll begin by looking at the key benefits of apprentice employment for your business.
Cost-effective training
One of the main benefits of apprentice employment is that it provides your business with a cost-effective way to train new employees. Unlike hiring a fully qualified professional, an apprentice is still in the process of learning, which means that their salary will be lower. Additionally, the UK government provides funding to employers who hire apprentices. This can help offset their training costs.
For further information on funding for apprenticeship training, you can visit the gov.uk website.
Improved productivity
An apprenticeship provides a unique opportunity to train fresh recruits according to the requirements and work methods of your business. This can lead to increased productivity as your new hires are trained to meet your specific business needs. Furthermore, by providing apprentices with the tools they need to succeed, you can help them work more efficiently. This, in turn, will help contribute to the growth of your business.
Fresh perspectives
Another huge benefit of employing apprentices is their ability to provide a fresh perspective on your business. They can bring unique ideas and different ways of thinking that can help your business thrive. This can help you stay on top of new trends and technologies in your field, giving your business a competitive edge.
Improved staff retention
Apprenticeships are an excellent way to invest in your workforce and show your employees that you care about their growth and development. By offering apprenticeships to existing staff, you can help them gain new skills and knowledge. As a result, this can improve job satisfaction and lead to increased staff retention. Additionally, it will help you build a loyal workforce that’s invested in the success of your business.
Better customer service
By investing in the training of your staff, you can improve the quality of the customer service provided by your business. And these days, customer service is a high priority. In fact, one report by Microsoft found that 96% of customers say that customer service is important when it comes to brand loyalty. Apprenticeships allow your new employees to learn the specific skills and knowledge required to provide high-quality service to your customers. This can help you build a strong reputation for your business, boosting customer loyalty and repeat business.
Head over to our dedicated page for an in-depth look at the many benefits of hiring an apprentice.
How To Maximise The Benefits Of Apprentice Employment
In recent years, more and more companies have come to recognise the benefits of apprentice employment. Here are our five tips on how to maximise those benefits:
Tip 1 – Develop a structured training plan
As we mentioned above, one of the main advantages of an apprenticeship is the chance to train and develop new employees in a way that works for your business. However, in order to make the most of this opportunity, employers must create a structured training plan that includes both on-the-job and off-the-job training. This plan should be tailored to each apprentice, focusing on their individual needs, strengths, and goals. It should also be reviewed and updated regularly to ensure that the apprentice is progressing as expected.
Tip 2 – Assign a mentor
We highly recommend assigning a mentor to your apprentice, as it can be a great way to provide additional support and guidance. Your chosen mentor should be an experienced employee who can offer feedback, guidance, and advice as the apprentice progresses through their training. However, having job experience shouldn’t be the only prerequisite when choosing a mentor. The mentor should also be someone who is enthusiastic about training and developing others.
Tip 3 – Provide regular feedback
Providing regular feedback is essential when training an apprentice. This feedback should be given both formally and informally and should focus on the apprentice’s strengths, areas for improvement, and progress towards their goals. The objective of this feedback is to help the apprentice develop the skills, knowledge, and experience they need to become a valuable asset to your company.
Tip 4 – Encourage collaboration
Collaboration is an essential part of any successful apprenticeship program. As an employer, you can encourage collaboration by making sure your apprentice works alongside other, more experienced employees. They can help speed up the learning process and give the apprentice valuable insights into the company’s culture, practices, and procedures. Furthermore, collaboration can also help to foster a sense of teamwork and community. This is not only beneficial for the apprentice, but for the company as a whole.
Tip 5 – Provide opportunities for professional development
Our final tip for maximising the benefits of apprentice employment relates to their career and professional development. Some examples of professional development opportunities include:
- offering additional training courses
- providing access to industry events and conferences
- giving the apprentice the opportunity to work on special projects
These opportunities not only help to develop the apprentice’s skills and knowledge but also demonstrate that the company is invested in their long-term success and career development.
Key Takeaways
The benefits of apprentice employment are clear and well-documented. However, employers must know how to maximise those benefits. By following these five tips, you can optimise the benefits of hiring an apprentice while helping them to become valuable assets to your business in the future.
At Employing an Apprentice, we have a whole host of services for employers as well as information on training providers, End Point Assessments, and much more. If you’re ready to take on an apprentice, you can advertise your vacancy on our specialised apprenticeship jobs board. See our packages for further information and prices.
As always, please feel free to reach out to our team if you have any queries—we’d be more than happy to help.
