The Mutual Benefits of Apprenticeships

There are many benefits of apprenticeships, and both the apprentice and the business that hires them, can benefit from this process.

In this article, we explore who apprenticeships are for, why you should consider becoming an apprentice, and how your business can benefit from taking on an apprentice.  

Discover 5 benefits of apprenticeships

What is an apprenticeship

An Apprenticeship is a real job, which enables you to learn, gain experience and earn an income. While learning new skills, you will also gain on-the-job training, which will help you become proficient in your chosen field.

Apprenticeships offer a solid, respectable alternative to going to college or university, helping delegates avoid student debt while gaining the essential skills to perform effectively within their chosen field. 

For employers, apprenticeships are a fantastic option, as your organisation gain a staff member who is learning the key skills you require in your business while having the opportunity to mould them to suit the needs and culture of the business.

Tips for training for a new career

Why an apprenticeship?  

Throughout your apprenticeship, you will gain the knowledge, skills and often certificates required to help you move into a new industry. As a highly trained, knowledgeable, job-ready individual, you boost your employability and will become an asset to any organisation. 

Benefits of apprenticeships for individuals

Apprenticeships provide excellent benefits for individuals, including:

Gain a qualification – One of the biggest advantages of an apprenticeship is you can gain industry-recognised qualifications that can help you get into, or progress within, your chosen field. Course fees for college and universities are high, whereas an apprenticeship is a great way to earn a respected qualification in your chosen field without taking on lots of student debt.

Organisations choose to use recognised training provider like e-Careers, to provide apprentices with quality training opportunities as they work and gain experience.                      

Earn while you learn - Apprenticeships offer individuals the opportunity to earn a salary and learn new skills at the same time, which is beneficial for those delegates with living expenses they need to cover themselves.

Salaries for apprenticeships vary depending on age and the type of qualification you are studying for. That said, companies are legally obliged to pay apprentices at least the minimum wage, for the full duration of their apprenticeship.

Gain real work experience – Arguably one of the biggest benefits of apprenticeships is the chance to gain hands-on, real-world experience in your chosen industry.

One thing we often hear from students is that many graduate jobs require some form of experience to apply for many job roles. Apprenticeships negate this issue, as you would have banked up countless hours of hands-on work experience throughout your apprenticeship, potentially giving you the edge in the job market.  

Benefit from having the support – When you become an apprentice, your employer is contractually obliged to support you throughout the whole process. If you have not been employed before, this support can be invaluable, as you should be encouraged to grow as a professional.

As part of the agreement, employers must provide you with a mentor who can raise concerns and ensure you're supervised as you carry out your work. As an apprentice, you should also receive performance and development reviews, and your employer should match your pay as your skills and level of responsibility increase.

Boost your employability - Finally, an apprenticeship should help you increase your employability and work-readiness. They are a highly effective way to gain real-world business work experience.

Apprentices frequently find opportunities for work after they have completed their apprenticeship (often with the company who facilitated their apprenticeship).

Why companies value apprentices

With apprentices, you benefit from having an employee with both a solid professional qualification and practical on-the-job experience. This combination makes apprentices invaluable to your organisation!

Benefits of apprenticeships for employers

There are many benefits for employers, including:

Develop skills within your organisation - An apprenticeship will help you gain high-quality training so that your company can adapt to meet the needs of the future.

Gain motivated new staff - Apprenticeships are a great way to gain new, motivated team members for your organisation.

Improve productivity - Many employers report that apprentices have been successful in boosting productivity within their companies.

Cost-efficient training - They represent a ‘win-win’ situation for companies looking to gain cost-effective training while providing apprentices with opportunities to access career development training.

Efficient recruiting - Recruiting can be an expensive process for employers, so apprenticeships can be a more efficient way to gain skilled, talented, new staff members.

Provide a better service - They are an ideal way to gain new staff who can provide high-quality customer service to new and existing clients.

Read our employer guide to apprenticeships

Is an apprenticeship right for you?

If you are looking for a suitable alternative to going to college or university and you would like to gain on-the-job training, while earning a salary, an apprenticeship would be a great option for you.

Some things to bear in mind are that you will be earning around the minimum wage, so if you must earn a certain amount per month to cover your living expenses, this may not be the best option for you. However, with university fees creeping up, apprenticeships are becoming a more popular training route.  

Is hiring an apprentice right for you?

Are you keen to hire someone that can grow within your organisation and gain the skills your team need to grow at this time? If you can commit to keeping an apprentice for at least 12 months, hiring an apprentice could be a great way forward for your business. e-Careers can help you train your apprentice across a wide range of sectors, including Accounting, Business Analysis, Cloud Computing, Cyber Security, and IT.  

There are also financial benefits to taking on an apprentice. The Government has agreed to pay organisations £3,000 for each new apprentice they take on, with an employment start date of 1 April 2021 to 30 September 2021. They must have an apprenticeship start date of 1 April 2021 to 30 November 2021.

The Apprenticeship Levy for employers

The Apprenticeship Levy is a tax that HMRC collects every month via the PAYE system. If your company has a wage bill that equates to over £3 million per annum, you will be taxed 0.5% of this wage bill (minus an allowance of £15,000). The tax generated goes into a scheme known as the Digital Apprenticeship Service (DAS), and you can use these funds to upskill new or existing employees. It’s important to note that you will lose these funds if you don’t use them within 24 months!

If your business does not meet the qualifying £3 million wage bill, you will not be eligible for the Apprenticeship Levy, however, you can still train staff and pay just 5% towards the cost of apprenticeship training. The government will pay the remaining 95%.

If you are unsure if either becoming an apprentice is right for you, or if you should hire an apprentice, our team of Apprenticeship Consultants are on hand to discuss what your best options might be and how to get started.

Interested in a training course? To get started or discuss your requirements in more detail, call our Course Consultants on +44 (0) 20 3198 7700 or fill out our contact form and someone will be in touch with you to go through your training options.