What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about apprenticeships? Young people, out of school, engineering, electricians…well that was what I associated apprentices with when I first looked into apprenticeships. How wrong was I?!
There are many benefits to an hiring an apprentice, both for the employer and the employee. Here are some of the reasons why every employer should look to hiring an apprentice.
Employer benefits of hiring an apprentice
Fresh ideas
The apprentice will have fresh ideas and will look at your business from a completely different angle to what you are used to. Not every observation will be a “winner” but they will definitely make you think differently which will be a benefit. You will probably be the apprentice’s first job, so enthusiasm and passion will be through the roof!
Willingness to learn
As a young person, it is unlikely that they will have any “bad habits” that have perhaps been learned at a previous job. The benefit of this is that you can mould the individual, so they can grow with the business.
Employee benefits of being an apprentice
Developing career skills
An apprentice will have the opportunity to develop their career skills while working for your company. They will be able to learn from their colleagues the company’s clients and suppliers.
As an employer, you’re giving the apprentice the chance to grow. By expanding their mind, improving their communication skills, and learning about your company’s products and/or services. Whilst the minority of apprentices stay in employment with the same company for the entirety of their career, they are going to pick up valuable skills that they can take into life.
Earning while learning
An apprentice will have the opportunity to “earn while you learn”. One alternative to apprenticeships is University, which has its own benefits, but unless you are in a very fortunate position where your fees and lifestyle as a student is fully funded, most students will finish their University qualification(s) in debt, which will take a number of years to repay. By hiring an apprentice you’re giving an individual the opportunity to choose a different route – A route that suits them.
National Apprenticeship is on the horizon, so my advice to employers is to be open-minded and reach out to apprenticeship providers and start a conversation. One of your best employees may even turn out to be an apprentice, you never know.
Written by Ben Thomas, Managing Director.
