Over 70 per cent of apprentice-hiring businesses report productivity boost

Over 70 per cent of small and medium-sized businesses that have taken on apprentices have seen an increase in productivity, according to research from the Department for Education.

The research, which has been released ahead of National Apprentice Week, shows the benefits that apprentices can bring to businesses, with over 200,000 apprentices set to be recruited over the next year.

Improvement

The report identified the main benefits that businesses have experienced since hiring apprentices, with 72 per cent seeing an improvement in the quality of their services and products and 71 per cent seeing a boost in staff morale.

Over 65 per cent reported better staff retention, 64 per cent saw an introduction of fresh ideas and 64 per cent experienced an improvement in their company’s overall image. Over 55 per cent of businesses that hired apprentices also reported an improvement in their ability to attract better staff, whilst 37 per cent reported a lower overall wage bill.

According to the report, the 24,000 companies in the private sector that take on apprentices said that doing so had resulted in them winning business.

Opportunity

Apprenticeships and Skills Minister Robert Halfon commented: “We know that apprenticeships give people of all ages and all backgrounds a ladder of opportunity to get the skills they need. That is why more than 90% of apprentices stay in employment after their scheme ends.”

He added that it is great that so many small enterprises are making use of the programme, guaranteeing that they get the employees that they need, but more must be done to encourage companies to hire more apprentices.