Good for business, good for employees and good for government – apprenticeships fast becoming a credible alternative to university degrees Apprenticeships in the UK are set to rise by over 50 percent to 800,000 in the next five years, reveals leading talent acquisition and management company Alexander Mann Solutions. Becoming an apprentice is proving an increasingly popular choice as employers realise the benefits of recruiting apprentices and seek a broader mix of candidates.
The number of apprenticeships grew by 14 percent from 2011 to 2012 – numbering 520,600 – with nearly 75 percent of apprentices now completing their apprenticeships successfully, compared to just 50 percent in 2006. The sectors currently attracting the most apprentices are business administration and retail. “There are many bright young people actively opting for apprenticeships over university degrees, and job opportunities for apprentices are growing as employers understand the value they deliver,” says Tim Campbell, Head of Client Services, Emerging Talent, Alexander Mann Solutions.
“It’s a win win situation – employers benefit from a team of motivated new employees who are keen to learn the ropes, while apprentices become more confident by learning practical workplace skills.” Campbell, who is building Alexander Mann Solutions’ apprenticeship proposition, is an Apprenticeship Ambassador for the Mayor of London. He was instrumental in increasing the number of apprenticeships in different business sectors from 40,000 in 2011 to 100,000 in 2012. Campbell was also the first winner of the BBC TV Show ‘The Apprentice’.
“Some 80 percent of workplaces employing apprentices agree that they make the workplace more productive,” continues Campbell. “Making the most of the growing numbers of successful apprentices means getting to the heart of their values and skills, and introducing a rigorous talent management process to find and keep the best people.” Alexander Mann Solutions helps employers, such as Cap Gemini, to define the profile of the ideal apprentice and understand whether their values are a good fit for the business. It then works with companies to attract and retain high quality apprentices.
More than 50 percent of all apprenticeships are in business administration or retail, followed by healthcare and public services, engineering and manufacturing and construction. London has seen the biggest growth in apprentices (132 percent), with the North East coming in second (107 percent), while the South West has seen the smallest increase (60 percent). By adopting a strategic approach to attracting the right apprentices, Alexander Mann Solutions is helping its clients to meet their business objectives and attract the best quality apprentices on the market.
