There is no denying that apprenticeships represent a great opportunity for people that are looking to get their foot on the career ladder and pick up the required skills and experience in a real-life working environment. However, apprenticeships also offer numerous benefits to the businesses that are offering them, so long as they are implemented correctly. With that being said, read on to discover some useful tips for employers in terms of making apprenticeships matter.
Promote fairness
There is only one place to begin, and this is by promoting fairness. You should use this as an opportunity to enhance the diversity of your team of employees. Of course, apprenticeships should be open to all, and you should take barriers to success into account, for example, English as a second language and confidence problems.
Set targets
When taking on an apprentice, it is important to challenge them and set targets. You have already agreed to the basics, but setting clear SMART targets is vital. This will not only motivate and help your apprentice, but it means more will get done for your business too.
Reduce risk
Despite the fact that there is funding available for businesses that embrace apprenticeships, there is no denying that there is risk involved because they require a large investment in terms of money, resources, and time. This is why you need to look for ways to reduce the risk. This includes making sure everything is in place from the start so that your apprentices can complete their programme successfully, as well as having the correct process in place in terms of choosing the right apprenticeships.
Work with those who share your ethos
This does not merely relate to your apprentices, but also the assessment organisations and training providers that you align with. It is vital that they share your values and ethos.
Embed the assessment endpoint from the beginning – Working backwards can often be beneficial, and this is certainly the case when it comes to apprenticeships. If you know what the assessments are going to be at the end of it, you can start from then and work backwards to ensure the apprenticeship is perfectly designed.
Make apprenticeships part of the bigger picture
Last but not least, if you are to truly benefit from an apprenticeship at your business, you need to make sure that they become part of your wider company growth strategy.
From making apprenticeships part of the bigger picture to promoting fairness, there are a number of important steps you should take in order to ensure that all of your apprenticeships matter. If you follow the advice that has been followed above, you can ensure that not only the apprentice has a positive experience, but that your business does too.
