Investing in employee training will help them grow and encourage productivity

Businesses in England are realising the importance of upskilling their workforces. Investment in training is also a positive way for employers to show that they value their employees

There is a multitude of training and employment schemes that can increase employees’ skillsets to support businesses to adapt or to aid employee recruitment and retention.

Offer training to all employees

Apprenticeships offer employers the opportunity to grow the skills their business needs and are ideal for upskilling or retraining existing employees — of any age and at any level.

Apprenticeships are flexible and work for businesses of all sizes in different sectors and industries. In a survey commissioned by the Government, 86% of employers said apprenticeships helped them develop skills relevant to their organisation.

In England, over 740,000 people participated in an apprenticeship between 2021–22. There are success stories across the country in sectors including digital, construction, engineering and health.

What is an apprenticeship?

An apprenticeship is a job with training, developed by employers to meet skills gaps, and over 650 different job roles are currently offered. Apprenticeships can also be eligible for government funding.

Apprenticeships are flexible and
work for businesses of all sizes.

How apprenticeship can benefit business

Hiring an apprentice is a productive and effective way to grow talent and develop a motivated, skilled and qualified workforce:
• 78% of employers said apprenticeships helped them improve productivity
• 74% of employers said apprenticeships helped them improve the quality of their product or service

There are many types of apprenticeships — from school leavers and university graduates to career switchers and people who want to further their careers.

Apprenticeships add value to workforces

Fran Cormican, who was an apprentice electrician, now owns his own North East-based electrical engineering company, Intelect. A firm believer in the business benefits of apprenticeships, he has employees on the programme to reskill and upskill within the business.

“There’s a stereotype that apprenticeships are just for fresh-faced 16-year-olds, but they’re for everyone,” he says. “We have people in their 30s doing degree apprenticeships. It’s equally admirable seeing someone later in life wanting to make a change.”

Degree apprenticeships are a great way to improve accessibility into your industry. Because they are attractive to ambitious and talented people who want to earn while they learn, they can help to widen the diversity of your workforce, bringing fresh perspectives.