Many tradespeople struggle to decide whether it’s worth hiring an apprentice. Of course, you have to factor in the time it will take to train them up to be a useful employee, as well as any potential costs. Then you have to consider whether they’ll be any good once trained! However, what many fail to do is see the benefits of hiring an apprentice, of which we’ve outlined a few here.

Fill skills gaps

Missing a particular skill in your team and struggling to find someone to fill it? Why not hire an apprentice with the aim of having them specialise and be taught in college. Many tradespeople will use apprentices to grow their business in new directions and allow them to offer more services without the need to outsource.

Improve your bottom line

It doesn’t actually cost as much as you might think to hire an apprentice, in fact, there are government grants available to those who do. The cost of the wage will be subsidised meaning the cost to your business will be minimal. Of course, when you factor in the value of the labour, you should really be quids in!

Get new ideas

It’s easy to get stuck in your ways! Sometimes injecting some young blood into your team can help to foster a more progressive environment. Especially considering that your apprentice will be attending college and learning about the latest techniques and practices, which can be cascaded down into your more experienced team members.

Staff loyalty

You can never guarantee that a member of staff will stay loyal to your business, however, it’s much more likely that someone you train up will. Training an apprentice can create a feeling of gratitude that means they may develop into one of your most productive and loyal members of staff.

Finding an apprentice...

If you’re interested in taking on an apprentice you first need to find one! You may choose to advertise locally. Alternatively, there are a variety of training providers who may be able to suggest someone who suits your needs. You can also contact the National Apprenticeship Service for further advice and guidance on 0800 015 0600.