Home > News > February 2008 > 28 February 2008

Apprenticeships improve business performance, says survey

According to research released to coincide with Apprenticeship Week 2008, employing apprentices has a hugely beneficial impact on overall business performance.

In a survey of organisations that employ apprentices, conducted on behalf of the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), over three-quarters of respondents felt their Apprenticeship programme made them more competitive, while the same number believed Apprenticeships led to higher productivity.

83% of respondents said they rely on their Apprenticeship programme to provide the skilled workers they need for the future. In addition, two-thirds of respondents said that they would struggle to find trained staff with the skills they need without their Apprenticeship programmes.

According to the research, Apprenticeships have an impact on recruitment and retention, with 80 per cent believing that the programme improves staff retention and turnover. Two-thirds of respondents said their Apprenticeship programme helps them fill vacancies more quickly, while 88 per cent believe Apprenticeships lead to a more motivated and satisfied workforce.

Stephen Gardner, Director of Apprenticeships at the Learning and Skills Council said: "These survey results confirm the significant benefits that employers achieve from Apprenticeships, from increased competitiveness and overall productivity to improved staff retention and motivation.

"The impressive return on employers' investment shows that Apprenticeships are an excellent way to improve the bottom line, helping build the workforce employers need for future success. There are currently 130,000 companies reaping the benefits of Apprenticeships, and we are calling for even more employers to open their doors to apprentices.

Skills Minister David Lammy MP said: "The global economy is evolving rapidly and the jobs of yesterday will not be the jobs of tomorrow. Apprenticeships have a vital part to play in ensuring our nation's competitiveness, which is why the government is committing more than £1billion to increase the number of apprentice places by 2010/11."

External link

For more information about Apprenticeships, visit: www.apprenticeships.org.uk

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