So – you’re considering hiring an apprentice, but you’re not sure if it’s a great idea. To help with your decision, we’ve rounded up just some of the benefits that come with hiring an apprentice!
The B2W Group offer a free recruitment service when hiring an apprentice. We want to ensure that the process is as easy and smooth as possible from start to finish. This means that you will save time and money and you can focus on your everyday job whilst we find you the perfect candidate based on your recruitment needs and requirements.
The Benefits
Improves Motivation & Dedication
Investing in an individual’s career through an apprenticeship shows that a business cares about the development of staff. In turn, this motivates staff members. 92% of apprentices said that their career prospects improved since the start of their training and that they felt that their apprenticeship had a positive impact on their careers.
Improve Skills and Capability
Apprenticeships are all about increasing the capability of learners and teaching them new skills to apply in their workplace. Apprenticeships usually take 12-18 months to complete, which is a great amount of time to learn new things. For those who completed an apprenticeship, 97% said their ability to do the job had improved.
Apprentices Can Free Up Time
One of the main reasons employers hire an apprentice is to create more time for other staff. Apprentices dedicate themselves to the business and complete tasks to a high standard, in a speedy manner. This means other staff will have more time to focus on the key areas included in their job role.
As they’re learning on the job, they can bring new approaches to the business and incorporate new tools that save time for everyone.
A Return on Investment
After paying course fees, employers hope to see a return on investment for their apprentices.
87% of employers with an apprentice say they are satisfied with the programme, 76% say that it improves productivity and 75% report that apprenticeships improve the quality of their product or service.
The Requirements
First of all, let’s discuss the requirements of hiring an apprentice including their wage and the rights that they have.
As an apprentice is considered an employee, they will usually have the same rights as a full-time employee in your company, including holiday allowance and rest breaks.
In terms of pay, there is a national minimum wage in place for apprentices. This is currently £4.81 per hour for apprentices under the age of 19, or those over the age of 19 in the first year of their apprenticeship.
If the apprentice is 19 or over in the second year of their apprenticeship, pay will increase to the following;
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23 and over (National Living Wage)
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£9.50
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21 to 22
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£9.18
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18 to 20
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£6.83
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Under 18
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£4.81
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Apprentices work at least 30 hours per week, with around 20% of the course being dedicated to off-the-job training. Learners participate in lessons through face-to-face workshops or via online webinars with other learners.
Cost and Funding
Of course, knowing the cost of hiring an apprentice is an important factor for any business. The Government wants more young people enrolling on to apprenticeships and is willing to fund 90% of the course cost for small employers (annual payroll of less than £3m). As a small organisation, you can expect to pay 10% of the total cost.
For larger organisations (annual payroll of more than £3m), the Levy comes into play. As paying Levy is mandatory, business’ should use that money by hiring an apprentice or placing existing staff on an apprenticeship.
Of course, the actual cost of the course depends on the industry and the level of the apprenticeship.
Hiring an Apprentice
At The BW Group, we host a variety of digitally-focused apprenticeships, designed to give people the skills and experience that business are crying out for. Businesses looking to hire new staff or upskill their existing workforce will find apprenticeships to be a cost-effective way to bring new skills into their teams.Your apprentice will likely be with you for 12-15 months and will carry out tasks that are central to your business. While the apprentice learns their craft and earns an industry-recognised qualification, you will benefit from a new member in your team – someone who is passionate and energised and armed with the skills and support to deliver the highest quality work. If you’d like to know more about hiring an apprentice check out our Hire An Apprentice page, or get in contact with the team at The B2W Group who can help. We offer multiple apprenticeship courses providing a positive experience for both the employer and apprentice. Contact us by emailing [email protected]
