Apprentices don’t come with a great reputation. SMEs, on the whole, find the perception of them to be lazy undergrads with no common sense or understanding how a business works. So, it’s not difficult to get to the bottom of your reasoning for not employing them. Why would you go through the hassle and potentially put the company at risk?
However, a sizeable 83% of firms rely on apprenticeship programs as a valuable recruitment source. When the number is this high, it’s tough to ignore completely and to dismiss out of hand. There must be something that makes apprentices a savvy hiring choice, and there is. Over 90% of employers notice a boost in morale and team building, for example, and there is an obvious impact on young talent.
Of course, these aren’t the only reasons to consider taking on more apprentices. Here are six of the best which might make you reconsider your approach as well as your attitude towards young workers. Well, the ones that aren’t fresh out of college, anyway!
They Are Company People
Apprentices don’t work for 90 days before they are offered a full-time role. An apprenticeship isn’t a probation period where you’re obliged to decide after three months. Instead, it’s a one-year, long-term project where the individual learns about the complexities of the role and the company. Over that time, you get the opportunity to mold them in your image so that they are the ultimate brand ambassadors. Whether it’s how to create and style content or manage their time without help, they’ll go about their day efficiently and effectively. Something full-time employees struggle with is the process of adapting and it costs the business time and money.
Also, apprentices tend to be loyal. After all, you gave them a chance when nobody else would and that affects their decision-making.
They Promote Competition
Let’s put something on the table: people can be lazy. This is very true of workers who don’t feel challenged or are comfortable in their role. The obvious side-effect of this is the reduction in productivity and creativity among other things. It’s your job to give them a kick up the butt, yet there’s no need if you invest in apprentices; they do it for you. Why? The answer is two-fold. Firstly, the generous employees who don’t feel threatened will use their skill set and knowledge to help the recruits. In layman’s terms, they set a high standard and lead by example. Others will assume the upstarts are out to take their job and work harder to ensure they don’t get the chop.
There’s a reason 90% of companies report that apprentices increase productivity in the workplace. It might not be the healthiest of reasons but it gets the job done.
They Help To Stabilize Recruitment
It’s no secret that the recruitment process is far from perfect. The odds are you have hired people in the past that you wished you didn’t and continue to take risks to this day. Unfortunately, they are expensive errors and put the company in jeopardy which is why it’s essential to smooth out the process. Apprentices help because they don’t adhere to some of the standard rules of employment. For example, there’s no need to provide a notice period before termination if they don’t fit the bill. Plus, end point assessment organisations will help you determine who is full-time material. By tracking your mistakes and successes, you can use the formula throughout the recruitment process to ensure everybody matches up. This will stop you from wasting valuable resources such as time, money and energy on duds.
This isn’t exploitative if you give them opportunities to improve and grow.
People Notice
“You shouldn’t do anything unless it’s for you and the business” is a flawed argument. In today’s progressive world, there’s an opportunity to market the brand to a bigger base of people if you are willing to hire apprentices. Although it sounds far fetched, the truth is that shoppers want to buy products from companies that are helping the community. Recycling is one example, as is giving to charity, but so is providing young people with a job in an economy where there are few openings. And, consumers aren’t the only group that will take notice; sponsors will too. Not to be cynical but they like to take a piggyback ride on brands with good PR and they will invest in you if you fit the bill. Plus, lots of companies have the same morals as customers and like to do business with like-minded organizations. If you want to stand out from the crowd, apprentices are the way forward.
They Broaden Horizons
Apprentices are by no means the saviors of business, hence why they need a role to learn more about how the industry works. Still, this doesn’t mean they don’t have good ideas. In fact, their upbringing suggests they understand things which regular entrepreneurs don’t as they are familiar with modern trends. By involving them in meetings and getting them to create pitches, they will influence the team as a whole because they have their finger on the pulse. Just from a probability standpoint, it makes sense to have as many demographics in one room exchanging ideas.
They Are Cost-Effective
First of all, an apprentice’s salary is lower because they don’t require as big a wage, and that is government policy. But, there is also the matter of training. Apprentices continue with education during their employment and learn the theory as well as the practice. They get the best of both worlds. From your point of view, this is a big plus as the costs are subsidized by the government, local and federal. It’s projected that employers only have to contribute 10% of the costs and end up with a boost of over $2,000 to their bottom line.
Apprentices are hard to argue against due to the advantages they bring as well as the fact their disadvantages are reversible.
