Why we Need Apprenticeships to Build the Future

National Apprenticeship Week 2021 takes place from 8-14 February. To celebrate, we’re sharing some of the key business benefits apprenticeships can offer, and how this form of training helps you to build the future of your business.

The unpredictability of the last year alone proves that it’s more important than ever to build for the future of our businesses. HIT Training, have seen first-hand the overwhelming impact COVID-19 has had on our hospitality industry. And with the unknown impact of Brexit continuing to loom over us, it’s essential that we’re prepared for whatever the future throws at us.

Apprenticeships can help create ‘future-proof’ workforces. They bring unique training opportunities to motivated individuals across our highly skilled hospitality sector. Apprenticeships can be tailored to your individual workplace – meaning employees aren’t given ‘out of the box’ training. Instead, the skills they cultivate are unique to your establishment and business needs.

Not only are these employees better skilled for the job at hand, but by investing in your employees’ professional development, you’ll create a more loyal and engaged workforce – ultimately reducing your staff turnover rate and improving all-round productivity.

Encouraging employee retention

By learning ‘tricks of the trade’ through vocational training, apprentices will be highly motivated, have a tendency to stay committed and a true advocate for your establishment. According to data from the National Apprenticeship Service, 92% of companies that have taken on apprentices believe this leads to a more motivated and satisfied workforce, with 80% seeing a significant increase in employee retention.

Apprenticeship programmes provide inspiration through measurable goals, leading employees to value their job as a career. This creates a culture of staff wanting to remain with you longer-term, reducing time and cost spent on recruitment. Additionally, engaging existing staff in apprenticeship programmes will help them realise their own value, boosting their motivation.

Showing that you’re willing to invest in your employees’ future, will encourage them to invest their future in your business.

Cost-effective training opportunities

In recent years there’s been a rapid uptake in the number of apprenticeships. And with this, the benefits of apprenticeships for employers are becoming more widely known. The latest figures show that since the Apprenticeship Levy was introduced in April 2017, it has directly supported 312,900 people to start their apprenticeship journey.

Most businesses are eligible for funding support from the government – or even other businesses. This includes funding with your Apprenticeship Levy pot, to co-investment with 95% of the costs being funded by the Government. These affordable funding opportunities enable your employees to gain internationally recognised qualifications, whilst reducing costs on upskilling your team.

There are also a growing number of initiatives, both locally and nationally, providing cash injections to employers who offer apprenticeships. Businesses can claim a £1,000 cash payment from the government for any employed apprentice aged 16-18 (or 19-24 with an Education Health and Care plan or care leaver). If you hire an apprentice under the age of 25, you won’t need to pay the employer Class 1 National Insurance contributions upper earnings limit – a 13.8% cost saving on everything the apprentice earns over £8,788 a year. Plus, most local governments and a handful of campaign groups have set up their own cash incentive schemes to encourage employers to hire apprentices and boost local talent.

To learn more about the wide range of apprenticeship funding and incentive payments available, read the free to download e-guide: HIT Training: Funding to Fire up Your Business.

Improving employee engagement

Upskilling your employees with apprenticeships will fine-tune your employees’ expertise and abilities, substantially improving the level of service on offer.

In a government survey, 86% of employers said apprenticeships helped them develop skills relevant to their organisation. This is due to skills, knowledge and behaviours gained through an apprenticeship being provided by experienced sector experts within the workplace.

In an industry like hospitality, it’s more efficient and engaging to learn how to prepare a dish or provide excellent service by being shown the ropes by an expert, rather than reading about it in a book.

This practical form of learning also allows the apprentice to earn whilst they learn, meaning it fits in with a wider number of people’s lifestyles – allowing you to cast the net wider when recruiting.

Build the future

The future success and development of our sector is dependent on the motivation of our team members. By implementing apprenticeship programmes in your business, you’re investing in your employees and, more importantly, your future.

Vocational training in your workplace improves valuable factors in a team such as reliability, individual skills and confidence. A motivated and driven team creates a cohesive and supportive environment in addition to helping ‘build the future’.

To learn more about apprenticeship training in the hospitality sector, visit HIT Training.