What are the benefits of apprenticeships?

In the first of a series of blogs on how an apprenticeship programme can support growth and development at your business, Natalie Cole, coordinator of the Apprentice & Skills Plus service, writes about the benefits of apprenticeships and the positive impact they can have on your company.

The UK has a thriving furniture and interiors sector. Manufacturing turnover for the sector in 2021 was £12.6 billion, with 8,000+ manufacturers employing over 110,000 individuals. However, like any other industry, it faces a range of challenges. A shortage of skilled labour is a critical issue currently affecting the furniture manufacturing industry, with many companies struggling to find and retain staff with the right skills.

So, what are the benefits of apprenticeships?

Apprentices can help fill the skills gap

A survey carried out by the British Furniture Manufacturers in November 2022  saw 77% of its members report a ‘moderate to severe’ skills shortage. There are many reasons for this, but the most pressing is an aging workforce, with many skilled workers retiring and not enough new workers entering the industry. To tackle this, many UK employers are choosing apprenticeships as a cost-effective way to encourage younger people into the business and find the most relevant staff for their companies.

Apprentices can offer a new and motivating atmosphere in the workplace   

Apprenticeships offer a clear route to expanding a business while also reducing staff turnover, as investing in training generates committed workers. Research shows that 80% of employers who have taken on apprentices have seen a substantial increase in employee retention and, significantly, 92% of companies that have taken on apprentices believe this leads to a more motivated and satisfied workforce.

Learners are trained from day one in your company’s working methods

With role-specific development programmes and tailored on-the-job training, apprenticeships are an invaluable tool for upskilling in areas that matter most to employers. According to the statistics from Apprenticeships.gov.uk, 86% of employers say that apprentices helped to develop relevant skills for the organisation as well as filling the skills gap. Importantly, as apprentices are primarily trained in the workplace, they understand and are taught to your standard of expected quality, working methods and practices.

Apprenticeships are a great way to diversify the workforce

Organisations are increasingly recognising the crucial business case for improving the level of diversity and inclusion within their organisation and apprenticeships are a great way to achieve this. Statistics from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education state that, “businesses with a healthy balance of men and women are 15% more likely to outperform their competitors” and businesses with “employees from a good mix of ethnic backgrounds are 35% more likely to outperform their competitors.”

If you would like to have a no obligation chat with Natalie about the benefits of apprenticeships and how to implement a programme, please email natalie@furnituremakers.org.uk. For more information about the Apprentice & Skills Plus service, complete the sign-up form below.

About Natalie Cole

Natalie Cole is skills plus coordinator, a role funded by The Furniture Makers’ Company and the Furniture and Interiors Education, Skills and Training Alliance. Natalie has 20 years’ experience in the sector. After studying Furniture Design & Technology at Buckinghamshire Chilterns University, now Bucks New Uni, she ran a small furniture design business for 10 years that combined small run batch production of domestic furniture and products as well as larger scale one-off commissions. Most recently, she has been teaching furniture and product design at Birmingham City University for past eight years. 

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