Member Article

National Apprenticeship Week: What do Yorkshire businesses think?

On Thursday, David Cameron was in Lancashire to announce the launch of new ‘degree apprenticeship’ scheme as part of National Apprenticeship Week. Since coming into power in 2010, The Conservatives have placed great importance on apprenticeships, with plans for 3 million placements to be created to tackle youth unemployment.

Yorkshire has seen a surge in apprenticeship schemes in recent years. Thanks to the support from Finance Yorkshire and Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP), small businesses are working alongside to recruit and support young people in apprenticeship roles.

Finance Yorkshire has recently worked with Rotherham College to launch an apprenticeship scheme with forklift battery provider, Industrial Battery and Charger Services Limited (IBCS). The Rotherham-based business has seen two apprentices already qualify as electrical engineers while a third is six months into his apprenticeship at the company.

Managing Director Jonathan Jones (pictured top) said: “We see apprentices very much as the future of our business – once they are qualified, they have a trade and stay with us while we continue to invest in their training and development. Having an apprenticeship scheme has been very positive for us.”

The company’s latest apprentice Dylan Bartholomew, 18, has already completed a Level 2 Electrical Engineering course, he said: “This is my first job and I’m enjoying it very much. I’m learning a lot while at the same time going to college where I do my course in two-week blocks which works well alongside being at IBCS. Doing an apprenticeship is definitely the right route for me.”

Larger businesses have also benefitted from the boost in apprenticeships, as Barclays announced plans to hire 50 new apprentices in Leeds this week, as part of a nationwide scheme. Lee Desborough, Barclays manager for the Leeds region commented: “The most motivating aspect of our apprenticeship programme is seeing young people, especially those who perhaps didn’t achieve academically, grow in confidence and aspiration.

“Our 2,000 apprentices have been a real asset to the organisation and I’m incredibly excited to welcome the next intake. Our goal is to help our apprentices grow with us, not just in the skills they learn, but in the confidence they gain as well as to help them build a bright future.”

Here at Bdaily, we were keen to talk to SMEs across the region to find out their opinions on apprenticeships and how they benefit young people, businesses and the economy.

Doncaster and Sheffield-based law firm Taylor Bracewell has benefited greatly from its apprenticeship scheme, as it currently employs three former office juniors in successful fee-earning positions within the business.

Practice manager, Remi Stumpenhusen, believes the firm benefits from the scheme on two levels: “We have been fortunate enough to attract the right candidates who believe strongly in our Core Values and we are most appreciative of our employees. With the apprentice scheme, we have also been able to assist with getting people on to the professional ladder in Doncaster and Sheffield; it’s a win-win situation!”

Leeds-based Greens Decorating Contractors also maintain a strong retention rate amongst its apprentices. Managing director, David Green, explained: “Since working with Leeds College of Building to provide the scheme, we have seen a healthy amount retained as full-time employees once qualification is completed.

“Growing our staff levels this way is a major benefit to our business, ensuring the quality of our workforce is retained rather than having to delve into the unknown pool of agency workers.

“Yorkshire businesses looking for home grown talent will benefit from the Apprenticeship schemes available. Even with the economy in the position it is in, there is still a wealth of funding and incentives available to businesses to boost employment through offering Apprenticeships.

“In doing so, businesses are able to positively contribute to the local economy through boosting youth employment and creating strong opportunities to bridge the gap between leaving school and commencing a skilled career.”

In past years, apprenticeship schemes were offered mainly in industrial and construction sectors but times are changing. According to recruitment experts Reed, business and administration is the top sector for apprenticeships in Yorkshire, with IT and telecoms coming second and retail and commercial enterprise third.

Nowadays, schools and colleges work with businesses from a wide range of sectors to promote apprenticeship schemes. Huddersfield entrepreneur David Price-Baghurst’s (pictured above) owns four of the leading stores in Queensgate Market, selling everything from hardware to baking equipment to wigs, and central to the success of his business is apprentices.

When he started the business, four years ago after deciding retirement wasn’t for him, the 66-year old was initially sceptical about the benefits of an apprenticeship scheme.

However, he was quickly persuaded by talking to Business Brokers from the Kirklees Apprenticeship Hub. David believes that this advice and support was crucial when making the decision to hire an apprentice: “When they’d been through the details with me, I thought yes - I can see this as an opportunity for us to improve the next generation and to bring people on in our way of selling and our way of doing business.

“So we took on one apprentice and then the second and then the third. We’ve now got three apprentices working within the business and we teach them everything they need to be a successful shop keeper - selling techniques, buying and stock taking.”

David Anderson, sales and marketing director at Kirklees-based Rixonway Kitchens believes apprenticeship schemes are a great way to keep local talent in the region, he said: “Rixonway is committed to providing employment opportunities for the local community and our apprenticeship scheme is a vital part of delivering these opportunities.

“It’s a breath of fresh air to see so many young people taking up apprenticeships with us and working at our factory alongside their college studies. Apprentices benefit both employers and employees and it is great to have so many enthusiastic young people wanting to learn a trade and establish their career with us.”

Rixonway, which employs more than 500 people at its factory in Dewsbury, has taken on four engineering apprentices (pictured above). Samesh Lad, a 20-year-old maintenance apprentice from Leeds, works at Rixonway alongside studying at Wakefield College. He said: “Doing an apprenticeship means learning, earning and getting hands-on experience. There aren’t many opportunities you will get where companies are willing to educate you whilst paying a wage to allow you to get experience.

“The variety of jobs to do on a daily basis is the most enjoyable thing about working at Rixonway; there is always something new to learn. I’ve picked up a keener interest in engineering as a whole and my apprenticeship has helped me to find ways to make use of any spare time I have by using it to build on my expanding knowledge.”

What do Bdaily readers think? Are apprenticeships a positive way of nurturing local talent? What are the long term effects from training millions of young people in apprenticeship roles?

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This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ellen Forster .