What are the Benefits of Taking on an Apprentice?

It's not just traditional industries or large organisations that are choosing the apprenticeship route nowadays. Small businesses also find it a useful way to recruit and train staff. Apprenticeships now cover more than 170 industries and 1,500 job roles from entry to degree level - PEAK offer a range of apprenticeships designed to help schools and organisations in the sports sector. Here’s a rundown of the business benefits for companies just like yours.

1. A breath of fresh air

Injecting some youthful talent can add a whole new dimension to your workplace, bringing with it a fresh perspective and new ideas. This in turn can excite existing employees and spark a boost in overall business productivity.

2. Increased productivity

Employing an apprentice is a highly cost effective way to increase your workforce. Studies have shown that over 80% of businesses that employed apprentices found their productivity had increased as a result. The average apprentice increases productivity by £414 a week, while the minimum wage is just £4.15 an hour for 16 to 18-year-olds.

3. Positive long-term development

Taking on apprentices can help you improve the range of skills you have within your organisation. It also encourages you to look at the way you do things because you are passing on your knowledge and expertise to people keen to learn the trade or business, enhancing your own skill development. Simply taking a closer look at what you do and why can lead to you making improvements and becoming more efficient.

4. Aid staff retention

As well as helping you to gain the right kind of skills you need for your business, employing an apprentice can also aid staff retention, providing you with skills staff for the future. In a recent survey, 74% of companies surveyed said that apprentices tended to be more loyal, than non-apprentices.

5. No added cost to you

Apprenticeships can be fully funded by your apprenticeship levy. Many organisations view the levy as a tax on payroll - but this is money which can fund 100% of an apprentice's training fee, so its best to make use of this!

6. Minimal downtime

As Apprenticeships are work-based training programmes, the training is ‘on the job’ – at the employers' premises. This is arranged at times to suit the employer and the apprentice, and is geared that way in order to minimise disruption and maximize business impact.

7. Tailored to your business

Apprenticeships can be tailored to specific job roles, making them flexible to the needs of your business. The added advantage is that you will effectively train a new employee to think and act in the interests of your business from day one, knowing that they haven’t already picked up any bad practice from elsewhere.

8. Tackle a skill shortage

Apprenticeship schemes help employers ensure that they get exactly the knowledge, skills and behaviours they need while growing a talented and engaged workforce. Employers running apprenticeship schemes value their apprentices because they help them fill the skills gap.

9. No more NI to pay

From April 2016, if you employ an apprentice below the age of 25, you will no longer be required to pay employer National Insurance contributions for them.

10 Future-proof your business

Keeping with technological advances can be tough for any organization. Apprenticeships provide you with the skilled workers you need for the future.

If you would like to know more about PEAK's apprenticeship offer you can visit www.peak-sport.co.uk/apprentices or contact us on 0191 704 2022.