Research carried out by JTL with more than one thousand small businesses has revealed the key reasons behind why they tend to avoid recruiting apprentices into the workforce.
JTL has more than 7,000 apprentices across England and Wales in the electrical and plumbing and heating sectors, and has seen growth in the numbers of apprentices it works with over the last three years – but that is very much against the trend being seen across the UK, with a huge drop in the number of apprentices in the past two years, despite the Government’s previous predictions.
Not content with finding out why these small businesses in particular are tending not to take on apprentices, JTL has come up with more support, devising a campaign to provide advice and guidance for them to dispel many of the myths that are out there and to provide further support in those very areas that the respondents say they want help.
Jon Graham, JTL’s Chief Executive, states: “The recent changes to funding for apprenticeships have inevitably had more effect on smaller companies where the resources for understanding the changes and administration are less than for a major business with dedicated departments to look after these matters. We were convinced – and are even more so now – that small companies will resist the opportunity to employ apprentices if it is perceived as just another costly issue to worry about.
“There are a number of perceptions out there that are simply wrong or based on a lack of understanding of important facts in relation to recruiting apprentices and the apprenticeship scheme as a whole. We have to address these – in particular with regard to the funding issues. It’s interesting that those who are already employing apprentices are far more likely to recruit again. They clearly do not see recruiting an apprentice to be as complex as those who have never done it. We need to get existing employers who recognise the benefits and clearly value apprenticeships to communicate those positives to fellow employers who are falling prey to the perceptions that so many have indicated to us through this research.
“Those of us working in the training sector need to do better in communicating the value of apprenticeships and the vital role they have to play, particularly at this uncertain time. We know they provide high quality, motivated young people who could potentially take the place of those leaving the workplace, especially those we have previously relied upon from Europe, who are currently departing the sector with sizeable skills gaps to fill. But we are clearly not getting that message across clearly or forcefully enough.”
Trade Up
JTL’s ‘Trade Up’ campaign has developed a range of support for small companies to help build confidence in the apprenticeship scheme and the young people they could employ. There are a number of myths being purported and shared amongst employers that have to be dispelled. JTL has devised a ‘Talking Heads’ video that is on its website and available to all organisations that want to use it, where those that currently employ apprentices make clear the benefits and argue the case against the apparent myths that are blocking future recruitment.
Amongst the myths busted are “there is no need for fresh talent in the trades”, “apprenticeship funding is difficult to understand”, “taking on an apprentice isn’t cost effective”, “taking on an apprentice involves too much paperwork” and “taking on an apprentice will take up too much of my time”.
Jon Graham continues: “Many trades have an ageing workforce and are seeing some of those currently working in the UK returning home or looking to work elsewhere in Europe as a result of their concerns about Brexit. Whatever happens around Brexit, there will be a huge need for qualified tradespeople to undertake the vast amount of work required in the UK. There is frankly a ‘head in the sand’ approach to the skills shortages we have, which will get worse if we can’t attract more talent from our pool of young people to these professions.
“There are no apprenticeships without employers – that’s a fact, so we need to communicate more effectively that there are skills gaps looming that will hold this country back. We need to ensure that the trades can survive and thrive in the UK.
“The government funding rules can appear complex as they are dependent on a number of variables including employer size and apprentice age. However that is just one of the important areas that JTL can help employers understand and ensure that they can access their full entitlement to Government funding.
“And if you work with a quality training provider such as JTL, you will get significant help and support in the recruiting of an apprentice, and with any administration and paperwork. JTL provides a dedicated training officer alongside every apprentice to help the employer and the apprentice to get through the apprenticeship as smoothly as possible.”
The video below is designed to be a mythbuster for anyone looking to recruit an apprentice…
