One in five employers are hiring more apprentices to help them through the tough economic climate, but why? Research undertaken on behalf of the National Apprenticeship Service has shown that there are a number of business benefits to hiring an apprentice. These range from apprenticeships increasing productivity to gaining competitive advantage from having highly skilled workers.

Apprenticeships develop a workforce that has both the technical knowledge and the practical skills that your business needs and your customers demand. They can make your organisation more effective, productive and competitive, even in these uncertain times. The blend of on and off the job learning ensures they learn the skills that are most required for your specific business. Training apprentices is more cost effective than hiring skilled staff, which leads to lower overall training and recruitment cost and in addition, funding may be available to cover the cost of training your apprentice. Apprenticeship Week 2010 is being held from 1^st-5^th February and is the ideal opportunity to demonstrate the talents of apprentices and how the future of the economy depends on training this next generation of employees.

Skills for Security offer you apprenticeship programmes in the security systems sector. The programme is made up of three elements; an NVQ (practical skills), a technical certificate (subject knowledge) and a key skills certificate (Numeracy, literacy, communication and IT).The apprentice attends college for one day per week (or in some areas, block release) to study the theoretical knowledge, whilst practical skills are learned in the workplace under instruction from an experienced employee (preferably a supervisor who can act as a mentor). So for the majority of their time your apprentices are training in a normal working environment, learning skills that are adapted to your specific processes and procedures.

David Greer, Chief Executive of Skills for Security comments; “Study after study has proved the benefits of investing in training. Although organisations are finding it harder to fund employee development, it is the best investment they will make. The security systems sector needs to create the next generation of skilled engineers and an apprenticeship is the perfect opportunity to harness fresh talent from the current pool of 16-25 year olds who are currently unemployed. I would urge you to consider the apprenticeship scheme for both new and existing employees, as I think you may be surprised of the difference it makes to your organisation.”

SKILLS FOR SECURITY WEBSITE

Posted by Alex Stocking - 4 February 2010