Why apprenticeships work so well for individuals and companies

It’s an exciting time for work based learning, skills and apprenticeships. No longer the best kept secret to a successful career, apprenticeships are a national, educational and societal priority.

I know that they work, for both individuals and companies. I joined the Apprenticeship world from the private education sector in 2017, working in Employer Engagement at an FE College as the Apprenticeship Levy was introduced.

I very quickly became utterly convinced that Apprenticeships were the way forward, witnessing the extraordinary benefits of learning whilst working to young (and not so young) people. The turnaround in confidence and capability of individuals, who are stepping into employment for the first time or who need to grow with their employer to take on more seniority, is a wonderful sight to behold, it’s why we in Apprenticeships battle forward, evangelising to all who will listen. 

Recruited by Screwfix in 2018 as their Apprenticeship Manager, I grew and embedded the Apprenticeship provision significantly to over 500 Apprentices across the UK and devolved nations. I worked with training providers both locally and nationally and contributed to the mutual work of the Kingfisher Brand. If ever proof were needed for the ROI of investing in your people, look no further than the astonishing success of Screwfix. 

I’ve been lucky enough to observe, first-hand, how supporting employees to learn and develop in the workplace creates an engine-house of capability in organisations, powering growth and profitability. The widespread changes brought about by the pandemic has put certain skills (already in short supply) in even higher demand. The battle for talent is real, if you can’t find it, I implore you to invest in the future of your business by providing opportunity to learn on the job. 

During my most recent role, in the policy and strategy department at UCAS, I had the opportunity to lead on innovative solutions for Apprenticeships, working with internal colleagues, businesses, government and the Dept of Education on progressive digital initiatives, using data modelling and customer behaviours to guide and support strategy and business rationales. 

The very distinct advantage of small and medium enterprises is the speed at which they can pivot, make decisions and implement them. The South West has the highest business density rates per adult outside London and the SE and is widely regarded for its creativity and innovation. As an alumnus of UWE and the City of Bristol, starting my career in the creative industries, I’ve returned full circle to feed back into this wonderful area. I can now support the SME sector with both operational and strategic experience of Apprenticeships, and I’m thrilled to be able to support Workforce for the Future in this way. 

The recently released Gov whitepaper, Skills for jobs: lifelong learning for opportunity and growth firmly sets out an agenda of putting businesses and the organisations that support them (like Business West) front and centre in the skills landscape. Building a capable workforce of highly skilled professionals is both a local and national priority. 

I’m thrilled to be joining the People & Skills Team at Business West on the cusp of Apprenticeships week and look forward to continuing to contribute to this vitally important work, supporting Business West and the community of SME businesses it serves.

Find out more about Workforce for the Future.

Are you thinking about hiring an apprentice? Download our infographic which illustrates the steps you need to take when employing an apprentice.