Did you know there are a million new workers needed in construction and trade to meet the growing demand by 2030?
It’s nationally known there’s a UK-wide skills gap affecting the trades sector and heck don’t we feel it? With the demand for trade jobs only increasing but with fewer tradies on the job, it’s a catch-22.
You can help bridge this gap whilst building a stronger workforce.
It may be that you’re unsure of how an apprentice can grow with you and benefit your company. We’re here to help you understand how to make the most of this opportunity.
1. There are numerous levels of apprenticeship qualifications
Apprenticeships are not strictly for school-leavers, in fact, 26% of apprenticeships are started at the ‘Higher’ Level. There’s a wide variety of apprentices which will perfectly fit the needs of your company, we know better than anyone that it’s not a one size fits all.
The general rule of thumb for apprenticeship levels are:
- Intermediate (Level 2) – equivalent to GCSE
- Advanced (Level 3) – equivalent to A-level
- Higher (Levels 4,5,6 and 7) – equivalent to a foundation degree and above
- Degree (Levels 6 and 7) – equivalent to a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree
Apprentices can be used to ‘fill’ the skills gap in your workforce, allowing you to expand your service offering.
2. The job roles available for apprentices is endless
A wide range of apprenticeships for those looking to dip their feet in the trade industries are available.
Those apprenticeships specifically for the trades sector are under the apprenticeship bracket of ‘engineering and manufacturing technologies’ and ‘construction’.
This is then split into further apprenticeship paths including the following:
- Engineering construction
- Building services
- Manufacturing processes
- Electrotechnical
- Gas industry
- Heating and ventilation
- Nuclear working
- Construction civil engineering
- Construction building
- Plumbing and heating
There’s an apprenticeship training course available for exactly what you may be missing in your organisation, and this could be utilised through the hire of a new apprentice or upskilling an employee already in your workforce.
*https://www.ucas.com/explore/industry-guides/building-and-construction
3. Apprentices are beneficial from day one
The National Apprenticeship Service statistics show that 90% of apprentices stay on after completing an apprenticeship with their loyalty remaining to the employer who helped them grow their skills.
What’s more, 81% of consumers favour using a company that takes on apprentices. If you’re an organisation that’s seen to be championing future skills, this can have a positive impact on referrals and future workflow.
We keep banging on about the high demand for trade skills in the current climate – it might seem tough now but if we don’t do something about it, it’s only going to get increasingly worse.
Also, if you decide to hire an apprentice, this can free up the time of other members of your team, giving you the flexibility to take on more jobs or simply concentrate on the little things you’ve been missing.
*https://nationalapprenticeshipevents.co.uk/questions-answered/the-positive-effect-apprentices-have-on-businesses/
4. Your own workforce can train as an apprentice
If you’re not ready to make the leap and expand your workforce or maybe you’re happy with the people around you right now, this doesn’t mean training an apprentice isn’t for you.
Apprenticeships are for all ages (16 and over) and all skill levels; they shouldn’t be pigeonholed by common misconceptions. You can fill the skills gap in your company and help one of your workforce train at the same time – it’s a win-win!
Why not open the conversation with your employees, and give them a chance to put themselves forward? You might be surprised by those who may be thinking about it but felt they haven’t had the opportunity to voice it before
5. Apprentice courses come in all shapes and sizes
As an employer, you may not feel as close to the everyday training activities through your selected training provider, which is why it’s super important to familiarise yourself with your apprentice’s schedule. It will not only help you communicate better but will allow you to structure the on-the-job learning as needed to secure the best results.
As a training provider, we have pulled together an example qualification flowchart for a Level 3 Diploma in Gas Engineering to give you a feel for how it can look.
We’re here to help
As an industry-leading training provider, we’re firm advocates of growing and developing future skills to fix the skills gap. It can just take one small change to make a big difference.
Get in touch with us today to discuss your options, our friendly and expert team are on hand to give you the guidance and support you need.