Whether you are an SME trying to build a dream team or a larger organisation looking to make the most of apprenticeship training, there’s a whole lot more to apprenticeships than cost-effective recruitment and an extra set of hands.
Here are six you might not have considered:
1. Create a Culture That Learns, Adapts and Wins
Apprenticeships aren’t designed to support just one department or to get an extra pair of hands in the office. Apprenticeships are best used throughout an organisation, from entry-level hires to upskilling existing staff, and even training in leadership and management.
By doing so you create a culture of learning throughout a business, avoiding stagnation and creating a workforce able to adapt to minor or major industry changes. If you have an issue with employee buy-in, apprenticeships are a fantastic way to change this by giving them a sense of progression and value beyond their role.
2. Each Generation Brings New Qualities
It’s normal for businesses to be apprehensive when hiring the new generation. Each generation is unique through their lived experiences and this can create a disconnect. However what many organisations overlook is their qualities and fresh perspectives, for example, each new generation proves to be more digitally savvy than the previous, able to pick up, understand and even improve systems faster than predecessors.
The long and short is that effective succession planning understands hiring new generations is ultimately essential for the wheels to keep turning. Apprenticeships can bridge the generational gap by providing a structured supportive transition into the workplace.
3. Build a Team That Actually Wants to Stay
Apprenticeships build long-term commitment and respect. People who are trained and developed within your organisation often feel more invested, they’re not just passing through, they’re growing with you. In larger organisations, this supports staff retention and succession planning. In SMEs, it helps you build the core members of your team who’ll likely become leaders.
4. Stay Ahead Without Breaking the Bank
It’s easy to spend a fortune on data and training to constantly keep your team and business at the cutting edge of your industry. But younger apprentices are often plugged into the latest tech, platforms, and industry trends. In both small and large settings, this gives you a real-time view of where the market is heading – particularly in digital, marketing, design, and customer engagement.
Not only this, apprenticeship training is fluid. As it’s constantly be stretched, squeezed and developed live in the working world, no stuffy classrooms with teachings from 5 years prior. Apprenticeships offer real-world, active insights that feed directly into the training your team will receive.
5. Be the Brand That Attracts the Right People
Offering apprenticeships boosts your reputation as an employer. It shows you invest in people and take growth seriously. For SMEs, that’s a powerful message in your community or sector. For levy-paying employers, it’s a valuable asset when it comes to ESG, tenders, and talent attraction, especially among Gen Z and graduate talent.
6. The Power of Equal Opportunities
Apprenticeships offer a truly open door policy, anyone can undertake an apprenticeship, provided they show the passion and drive to complete it. From a business point of view, this means bringing more diversity into your team. Diversity itself leads to growth through innovation and is often a catalyst for the best ideas.
Final Thought:
Whether you’re trying to stretch your levy, build a talent pipeline, or bring new energy into your team. Apprenticeships are more than a cost-effective option. They’re a strategic investment in your people, your culture, and the future of your business.