Employers find out how apprenticeships can give business a boost (From Droitwich Advertiser)
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Employers find out how apprenticeships can give business a boost
5:10pm Sunday 17th March 2013 in News
AS part of National Apprenticeship week employers have been finding out how apprentices can benefit their businesses.
At a recent event more than 30 Worcestershire companies learned about a new £1,500 grant available from Government to businesses who take an apprentice for the first time.
There was also a number of talks, presentations and workshops.
The aim of the event, organised by Worcestershire County Council, was to show how people can benefit from the bespoke skill set, loyalty and enthusiasm shown by apprentices.
It was held in partnership with the National Apprenticeship Service and Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Shropshire Training Providers Association.
Aamir Kayani, from the county council said: ”One of the council's priorities is ensuring that Worcestershire is open for business and a skilled workforce is absolutely essential to achieve that aim.
“Working to support apprentices will ensure that our economy has the skilled employees it will need in the future.”
Comments(2)
Arthur Blenkinsop
says...
9:17am Mon 18 Mar 13
How many students come out of uni/college now, brimming with qualifications and ideals who can't hold down a job in the real world because of a lack of proper on the job experience and knowledge?
Give me an apprenticeship anyday over a college course.
Jabbadad says...
10:25pm Sun 17 Mar 13
Even in the 1950's it was seen as an excellent opportunity to be taught skills from a person who had spent many years accumulating his / her knowledge / skills. Which eventually would make you into a skilled person who could then seek employment in your trade that you had been trained for. And which without any argument must have a valued input and better chances of employment.
So that is why apprentices during their training do not get the same rate of pay as those who are teaching them. The companies / firms have a large investment in the trainee, some paying wages while the trainee attends college. And yes I thought that after being shown once or watched once that I could do as well as the trainer, but I couldn't since there were years of skills and training behind that trainer.
So when those who shout for higher wages for apprentices, stop and think who is taking the time away from full production to train them and why, and who will benefit the most?
The UK has over the past 20 years and more, sadly dropped behind in Apprenticeships, when old craftsmen were constantly pointing this out, but the Captains of industry were busy moving factories abroad for cheaper Labour and greedy profits. So we now need a more engineering based training & education thinking, since behind almost everything, if not all the every day material things we take for granted, an engineer has been involved.