Interest in apprenticeships on the rise
Businesses in all sectors across Wales are continuing to recruit apprentices and upskill their existing workforce using apprenticeships despite the economic challenges created by the Covid-19 pandemic, new figures have revealed.
Between September 1 and November 22, the National Training Federation for Wales says 373 employers contacted its Apprenticeship Team through the Business Wales Skills Gateway compared to 234 in the same period last year. In the same period, 162 apprenticeship starts were confirmed.
Across Wales, the number of businesses wanting apprenticeships increased by an average of 40 per cent, with construction and building services the most popular sector.
To date this year, 1,330 employers have contacted the Apprenticeship Team through the Business Wales Skills Gateway compared to 1,172 in 2019.
Funded by the Welsh Government with support from the European Social Fund, the team works closely with employers and interested stakeholders across Wales to handle all apprenticeship enquiries.
The Federation represents more than 70 quality assured work-based learning providers with links to thousands of employers across Wales.
A marketing campaign has been launched to promote apprenticeships which are considered a key tool in the post-pandemic economic recovery in Wales.
Catherine Morris-Roberts, the NTfW’s apprenticeships programme development manager, believes the incentive, launched at the end of October, and marketing campaign are encouraging more employers to consider recruiting apprentices.
She praised work-based learning providers across Wales for their flexibility in adapting apprenticeship delivery to meet the needs of employers during the pandemic.
“There are so many benefits from recruiting an apprentice,” she said.
“It doesn’t matter what size or sector a business is in. If they are looking to grow a skilled workforce, then apprenticeships are an affordable way to attract fresh talent, hungry to learn and loyal to a business, or to increase the skill levels of a current workforce.
“It’s pleasing that employers in all 23 sectors in Wales are engaging with apprenticeships, not just the traditionally popular industries of construction, engineering, manufacturing and hairdressing.
“Many businesses are taking advantage of the new incentive payments from the Welsh Government to upskill their existing workforce, especially in management type frameworks.
“Other businesses are growing, despite the pandemic, and are recruiting apprentices. We are seeing an increase in IT and digital marketing apprenticeship frameworks.
Employers can discover how they can benefit from taking on an apprentice or upskilling their workforce by registering their interest atbusinesswales.gov.wales/skillsgateway/apprenticeships or by calling 03301 228 338 for more information.
Individuals who are finding their way in the world of work or taking steps towards a career change can find out more at gov.wales/apprenticeships-genius-decision.
The Apprenticeship Programme is funded by the Welsh Government with support from the European Social Fund.
