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Small firms
still lacking
clarity around
apprenticeships
Businesses need to be re-educated
in a targeted campaign, says FSB.
» » NEW RESEARCH
carried out in Greater
Manchester & Cheshire
shows many small businesses
remain confused by
apprenticeships and would
need to seek external advice
and help to recruit one.
The study, carried
out by the Federation of
Small Businesses, sought
to ascertain employer
awareness around the
current apprenticeship
system, identify common
barriers to recruitment,
gauge attitudes towards
apprentices and the value
firms place on them.
The survey was timed
to coincide with the
introduction of the ‘Levy’,
which has introduced a
new funding structure for
apprenticeships as the
government seeks to address
the skills gap across the UK
and deliver three million
new apprentices by 2020.
The research showed 63%
of small firms in this region
would need outside help
before employing one. Nearly
a quarter (23%) admitted
they were ‘clueless’, and 40%
said while they had some
idea, would still require
help.
In addition, 64% of survey
respondents admitted
they were unclear around
apprentice funding – which
was also cited as the biggest
barrier to recruiting an
apprentice (56%). Finding
a training provider was
the second most common
obstacle (43%) to taking on
an apprentice, while finding
and recruiting suitable
candidates (39%) was third.
Other common barriers were
around knowing how much
to pay, and finding a suitable
course appropriate to the job.
Almost a third (31%) all of the
latter were issues they’d need
help with.
On a more positive note,
52% of businesses said
they’d ‘definitely’ employ
an apprentice if they had
a suitable vacancy, and
a further 42% said they’d
‘consider’ it.
FSB Regional Chairman
for Manchester &
North Cheshire, Simon
Edmondson, said: “There’s
still far too much confusion
among small firms when it
comes to apprenticeships.
“There’s a good case
for a major awareness
raising campaign around
apprenticeships. Until
businesses are more
confident in how to take
on a young apprentice,
then successful apprentice
training will be stuck in the
slow lane.”
LOCKSMITHJOURNAL.CO.UK | MAY/JUN 2017
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