Employers
What are Apprenticeships?
How do Apprenticeships work?
Employer responsibilities
T&C Regime
What employers say about Apprenticeships from other industries
Benefits of working with the National Skills Academy for Financial Services
Welcome to the Employers’ section.
“Skandia UK has provided vocational training for its employees for many years and have learnt that the best talent is 'home grown'. We are proud of our staff loyalty and commitment and believe that free and easy access to learning at any stage of a career with Skandia has fuelled this return on investment.”
Mark Hammond – Vocational Programme Coordinator, Skandia UK
Apprenticeships can benefit your business by providing:
- a way to meet T&C requirements
- an additional recruitment tool
- a retention tool particularly for younger recruits
- possible funding to support the learning
- an attractive development path for new and existing employees
- a structured training programme which helps to recruit and retain employees
- the apprentice with recognised qualifications including a choice of professional qualifications
- improvements in the performance of existing staff, a way to fill the skills gaps in the organisation
- soft skills development - eg communication, management & leadership
- a reduction in staff turnover by implementing career plans and growing your own future managers, therefore you will not have to buy them in
What are Apprenticeships?
Apprenticeships are an effective means of recruiting and retaining talented, ambitious young people. They can also be used to re-skill existing employees and motivate staff to take an active part in a learning culture.
Apprenticeships are an integrated programme of learning leading to the acquisition and application of the skills, knowledge and understanding required by employers.
The Apprenticeship Programme is designed to fit into employers’ existing training provision. For even greater flexibility, companies may deliver their training in-house, externally or through a combination of both – whatever is best for the business. Apprenticeships can be funded depending on the apprentice’s age through your local funding agency
How do Apprenticeships work?
Apprentices can be trained and assessed on-the-job alongside other employees, with external verifiers checking this. The training can be delivered in-house through your training department, alternatively, apprentices can learn through a training provider.
As employees, apprentices also receive a salary like any other employee – based on their age, experience, skills and ability.
Employer responsibilities
The responsibilities of employers when offering apprenticeship placements do not really differ from those of recruiting and training any other employee.
When recruiting and inducting apprentices into their role, you will need to give them enough time and resources for their training and assessment commitments and provide on-the-job training opportunities via an agreed training plan. You will need to pay them a salary (a salary can be negotiated that reflects the skills, experience, age and abilities of the apprentice and the going rate for the job) and you will need to hold regular reviews and contribute to their progress.
T&C Regime
Our Apprenticeship pathways which include FSA regulated activities have been designed so that the technical certificate component of the programme includes appropriate exams, which are recognised by the FSA to carry out these regulated activities and have been developed with employers.
Where there are pathways which do not include regulatory activities, we have included professional qualifications i.e. CII Certificate in Insurance, which employers use to provide their employees with the relevant knowledge and understanding to carry out their role.
The competence part of the programme is based upon our National Occupational Standards (NOS) which, have been developed in consultation with employers to establish the competence requirements of different roles. This part of the apprenticeship can be measured and assessed in the workplace, using the same evidence which is collected for T&C purposes.
What employers say about Apprenticeships from other industries?
Large employers
Marriott Hotels say,
“Apprenticeships are fundamental to Marriott’s customer service and operational excellence. The skills and confidence Apprenticeships give to our young staff are a competitive advantage for our business and I recommend them to fellow employers – whether you run a small, medium or global business.”
BT Retail say
“We have found a positive return on our investment.”
BT Retail has calculated an annual net profit of over £1,300 per Apprentice when compared to adult (non-apprentice) recruitment. Recent figures show a 1.5% increase in the quality of work compared to non-apprentice engineers. Within BT engineering, the apprenticeship teams show the highest level of satisfaction, currently running at 85%, and this is significantly higher than other teams.
Medium-sized employers
Jo Bevington, Training and Development Manager at the Travel Division of the West Midlands Co-operative Society, a medium-sized business, says,
“Apprenticeships work very well for us and make a real contribution to the business. They give the young people a lot of motivation and increase their confidence, which is very important when you are dealing with customers. The apprentices are very enthusiastic and eager to learn – we do not really have to push them. Some of them are the top sellers in our branches, which shows how well they do.”
Hiring Apprentices, says Alan Adamson, Joint Managing Director of construction company Weaver plc, is critical as the Weaver business strategy relies on the ability to recruit and develop the right type of people.
“There is no doubt that Apprenticeship training improves productivity,” says Alan. “It makes sure we do a professional job on site, which in turn boosts staff morale and ensures customer satisfaction. As a company, we have found that employing Apprentices we have developed a loyal and highly motivated workforce – one which we intend to use to secure our future as a leader within the construction industry.”
Small businesses
Gemma Magson, small business owner of floristry chain The Topiary Tree in North Yorkshire says,
“Personal service counts and I can see how, as an Apprentice, Gemma Piercy is improving in this area. Employers benefit because the training gives young employees independence, confidence and knowledge.”
George Roberts, owner of small business GA Roberts & Sons builders says:
“We have now reached the stage where we employ a steady flow of Apprentices, taking qualifications in both bricklaying and joinery. Because we have this extra capacity, we can take on bigger jobs over a shorter timescale, which in the long-term enables expansion and increased turnover. It is very hard to separate the success of the business from the success of the Apprenticeship scheme.”
Benefits of working with the National Skills Academy for Financial Services (England only)
If you choose not to deliver the Apprenticeship in-house, the National Skills Academy for Financial Services will help you and your Apprentice decide which Apprenticeship is best for your business. They will also deliver relevant training and help with the paperwork – agreeing a training plan with your Apprentice, managing the assessments and ensuring professional standards are adhered to. They can also help you recruit an Apprentice or put your existing staff onto Apprenticeships.
There is no set time to complete Apprenticeships as they vary in content and size. The length of time taken will depend on the ability of the individual Apprentice and employer requirements. Apprenticeships at level 2 usually take at least 18 months to complete. Those at level 3 (advanced apprenticeships) usually take at least two years.
If you think your business could benefit from taking on an Apprentice, please contact:
Steven Poss
Education Manager
[email protected]
0845 618 2363
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