Lesley Nelson talks us through the steps and considerations employers need to take when starting an apprenticeship scheme to tie in with last week's National Apprenticeship Week.

It can be a whirlwind of information out there on where to start with an apprenticeship programme, and no doubt the information will differ according to each industry sector. Sectors like accountancy, engineering and construction have had apprenticeship routes into their professions for some time and these are better established and respected by young people and employers alike. These high-value apprenticeships deliver for both businesses and the people embarking on them. If you are thinking about starting an apprenticeship programme, here are a few pointers to think about before spending time and money implementing a scheme.

Do your homework

Only you know what your business needs are and what skills you need individuals to have. We have a surplus of graduates and yet a skills shortage, so as an employer you need to be clear about what qualifications you want your apprentices to obtain and be applying directly in the workplace. Invest time at the beginning so that you have a clear understanding of all the various qualifications on the market. The National Apprenticeship website is obviously a good place to start.

Who are you partnering with?

Just as it’s important to do your homework and find a qualification that you want your apprentices to undertake, it’s equally as important to find the right training provider to deliver this qualification for you. An apprenticeship programme is a three-way partnership between your organisation, your apprentice and the training provider. Finding the right training provider is crucial because it will determine how your apprentice(s) will study, e.g. part-time, online or via distance learning.

To state the obvious, the more open the lines of communication the better as you’ll know that your apprentice is becoming equipped with the right knowledge specifically needed for your business. You will also be up-to-date on other factors that add value to the learning experience such as extra study tools, flexible classes, assessment dates etc. 

It’s got to be an investment

You need to get everyone on board within your organisation for it to be seen as a serious commitment and investment. Ultimately you are taking responsibility for someone's career and you need to put the right measures and support in place.

Invest in your apprenticeship programme by:

• familiarising yourself with all of the appropriate information – including study leave requirements, apprenticeship wages and funding

• implementing a mentor system to ensure your apprentice is nurtured, supported and trained effectively

• planning appropriate evaluation methods so you can demonstrate how you've shaped your apprentices into more productive and experienced workers.

Reap the benefits

While I must admit that perfecting your apprentice programme will take time, I can say implementing our own apprenticeship scheme has meant that we haven’t had to recruit externally for roles other than first level entry roles. This means that staff who have been promoted do not require lengthy inductions as they already have knowledge of systems and processes so they’re productive in their new roles much more quickly.

Our apprenticeship programme has also brought younger people into the organisation that previously we wouldn’t have considered. In the past, we have recruited people aged 21 and over, many of whom were graduates. Now we recruit school leavers as well as graduates. School leavers have added a lot of energy and enthusiasm to the department. We get the chance to mould them to our organisation, and teach them the values and ethos we value most.

It’s understandable that some businesses would be wary of hiring school leavers but often going through the interview process will allow you to find individuals with the right attributes that you as an organisation can build on, growing talent from within.

Lesley Nelson is finance manager at the Big Lottery Fund. They’ve developed a finance apprenticeship scheme as a way to grow our own talent in combination with AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians) and Kaplan.