How Apprenticeships Have a Good Impact on our Economy

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More and more businesses in the UK have been starting to take on apprentices for roles that never used to be available for those without experience. Apprenticeships have been around for as long as we can remember, but they were mainly around manual work; industry varieties weren’t as out there as they are today.

For those who wanted to pursue a career in IT and Technology, it wasn’t an easy decision to make as there wasn’t a clear pathway due to how much university was being encouraged. The IT industry is based around training, and not all IT is the same, there are different training elements a candidate must learn before they are able to start their career, and not all universities can teach the practical skills that they need to know. IT apprenticeships help young adults achieve higher levels of qualifications and career prospects.

The government are encouraging companies and industries to take on apprentices, as it does not only benefit the apprentice, but it’s also advantageous for employers and the economy. Apprenticeships are increasing productivity which was the government’s aim; to build a vast number of candidates across the nation. According to the Apprenticeship website, it has been stated that for every ￡1 the government invests, brings a ￡26-￡28 return rate. Nobody understands what an employer needs – only the employer. This is why the government and ourselves are aiming to place candidates with employers so that they have the relevant skills.

In our current economy, we need enthusiastic young adults to take on certain responsibilities in the work place. Some fail to realise that young minds produce creativity and they already have a good foundation of technical knowledge because they have been brought up with it. With a good mentor on their side, they will have a strong skill set which will bring them a very bright future. Taking on an apprentice will require spending time to train them, but the end result will prove worthy; 70% of surveyed employers said apprenticeships have helped improve product quality and service. It also increases productivity in the workplace when you have young adults who have this drive to learn and succeed, the motivation is there and soon the skills will be,

Currently we have a skills shortage in the UK and for employers, this affects them greatly. Not only are they unable to fill their seats with qualified candidates who have the required skills, but the skills issues reduce their ability to stay ahead of competitors, respond to customer needs and to adopt new technologies. This is what creates the ‘productivity gap’ in the UK. Education in the UK is partially blamed for the skills shortage as it fails to equip young adults with the relevant work skills. Apprenticeships teach young people transferable skills and competency in English and Maths. Taking on an IT apprenticeship, just like any other industry, is a prestigious path to career success.

We support young people who are unemployed or who are at the risk of being unemployed through the apprenticeship route; putting them in sustainable employment. Our apprentices are preparing to be high quality candidates who are developing exceptional soft skills.

We hope that after reading this article you may like to get involved by employing an apprentice.