What is an Apprenticeship?
What is an Apprenticeship – Recent changes to the scheme and why employing an apprentice benefits a business.
What is an apprenticeship?
The question What is an apprenticeship? is one that is often asked. An apprenticeship allows the candidate to learn whilst they work. It combines on the job training and traditional classroom learning. The candidate is employed by a company and simultaneously studies for a formal qualification, such as a Level 2 Diploma in Fencing. Apprenticeships provide a route to a formal qualification that avoids tuition fees and gives the candidate the opportunity to earn while they learn!
Changes to apprenticeships – 2017.
Apprenticeships have recently been receiving a lot of attention. Recent changes in legislation has reduced the amount of apprentices enrolled in the UK. However, this is not necessarily a bad thing. The fall in enrolment statistics show that the changes are working. The changes were intended to ensure that apprentices are working towards a valuable qualification and that they are not just being used by employers as cheap labour. They also ensure that employers take responsibility for the UK’s shortage in technical skills, and force them to think about what training will be most valuable.
Previous governments were perhaps guilty of mismanaging the apprenticeship scheme in the UK. They have been accused of targeting sheer quantity rather than the quality of apprenticeships. This led too many apprenticeships being of low quality and at a very low skills level. Furthermore, many employers have been guilty of using the apprenticeship scheme to save money through paying low wages. Obviously, the lower wages is one of the benefits of the scheme for employers. However, when the qualification being studied is of no value, it is both a waste of time for the apprentice and discredits the scheme as a whole.
This is where the new legislation aims to make a difference. If you want to read more about the changes to the scheme please find the details here.
Why be or employ an apprentice?
There are many benefits to employers who employ apprentices. For example:
- Apprentices increase business productivity by on average £214 per week.
- You work with training providers, such as ourselves, to create the most beneficial programme of training. We can also access up to 100% funding for apprenticeships.
- You are able to increase the skills set that you have available.
- Increase the flexibility of your existing workforce and increase skills and energy. 96% of employers say that apprentices are beneficial to their business.
There are also many benefits for the apprentice themselves. For example:
- Earn while you learn. An apprenticeship offers the chance to gain skills, knowledge and a qualification whilst earning a salary.
- You will gain real world experience. On the job training gives you the chance to learn skills by doing the job. You will also gain invaluable knowledge from work colleagues who have been working in the industry for years!
- Every day is different. You don’t have to spend prolonged periods in a classroom. An apprenticeship usually combines, on the job training, classroom learning and on job assessments.
Our apprenticeships.
We are one of the few approved UK providers who can deliver the fencing apprenticeship programme. We have secured an ongoing funding agreement that ranges from 75% to 100%. The apprenticeship package we deliver culminates in the award of a Level 2 Diploma in Fencing and a Blue FISS CSCS card. Alongside this the apprentice will also gain a portfolio of training certificates such as ‘Abrasive Wheels’ and ‘Safe use of Power Tools’. The framework is approved by the governing body Lantra and meets the government’s criteria for the quality control of apprenticeships.
If you’re interested, or require any more information, please enquire here.
Alternatively, give us a call on 0121 476 4731.