The government has this week released the findings of an independent survey of employers in England that shows that apprenticeships are ‘helping businesses to boost loyalty inside and outside the workplace’.
The survey of 555 employers found that over half (56 percent) of those surveyed who offer apprenticeships say apprentices stay in the business longer than other recruits.
Of these, 59 percent say this is because of the quality of the training provided and more than half also attribute it to apprentices having the ability to learn and grow in the business from the bottom up. In addition, one third of those who offer apprenticeships say apprentices are ‘more committed’ to the business than other employees.
The survey also found that apprenticeships are not just helping employers to build a loyal, skilled workforce, but also enabling them to attract and win new business. 76 percent of apprentice employers polled say they actively promote their apprenticeship credentials when pitching for new business or talking about their company, with just under 40 percent saying it is a key element of their pitch.
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The research also shows that taking on apprentices marks businesses out from the crowd, with a third saying that by taking on apprentices they have been able to differentiate themselves from their competitors.
The study went on to reveal the impact that apprenticeships have on organisations’ wider supply chains. A third of all the employers questioned said they would be more likely to choose a supplier or partner if they offered apprenticeships. And 35 percent of apprentice employers say they actively advocate apprentice recruitment through their supply chain.
Top 100 Apprenticeship Employer Blue Moon Creative agrees with the findings. Michael Taite, Managing Director at the branding and design agency said:
Apprenticeships have transformed our business, in a low risk way. Clients we want are more ready to talk to us, and people we might want to hire are queuing up. They have brought a fresh new dynamic into the company, making a big impression on clients and prompting us to review our approach to our processes, target markets and even the future of our business.
This independent research was conducted by Redshift Research Ltd., who surveyed 555 decision makers in organisations with 2 or more staff in England, to investigate how apprenticeships can drive loyalty for employers, both in terms of their employees, and also among existing and future clients.
Apprentice employers have an opportunity to gain national recognition for their apprenticeship programme by entering the 2015 National Apprenticeship Awards. The awards, now in their twelfth year, are open for entries from 23 March to 22 May 2015, with a series of workshops being held across the country to help employers with their applications. To find out how to enter search for National Apprenticeship Awards on Gov.uk
