ImagesMagUK_October_2020

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT www.images-magazine.com 24 images OCTOBER 2020 I’ve read about the government’s push to get companies to take on apprentices – how do I create a successful apprenticeship scheme? S MEs involved in garment decoration have long been struggling with the answer to the sector’s skills gap and how they can retain crucial skills that may otherwise be lost as employees retire. In recent years, some have started to explore the vocational route and introduced an apprenticeship scheme to help them develop machinists, shopfloor staff, artworkers/graphic designers and admin staff. The feedback has been impressive, with companies citing this approach as a great way of ‘developing talent that understands the business culture’, ‘improvements in staff retention’, and ‘creating a more versatile workforce’. It is a key training scheme that delivers value for money and vital skills. One of the stumbling blocks to implementing an apprenticeship scheme can be a lack of understanding of how it works. The following guide will give you an insight into what is required and where you can go for help. 1: Choosing the apprenticeship route Firstly, consider what sort of apprentice(s) you require based on current needs and your short and long-term business strategy. There are more than 600 different trailblazer courses, which last from between 12 months and six/seven years covering three different levels, including: Foundation - Levels 1 & 2; Advanced - Level 3; and Higher - Levels 4 upwards. It is the company’s responsibility to ensure the working environment meets the regulatory HSE requirements for a young apprentice. 2: Choose the right learning provider Once you have identified the relevant apprenticeships, spend time identifying the training provider that can best fit your business and what you are expecting. Take time to explore a number of options and ask yourself what they can bring to the relationship, what training is provided, what is the experience of the trainers, what is their Ofsted rating, and what type of equipment they use. Once you have chosen the right training provider, they will support you with your recruitment, support you in accessing any funding or grants that are available, and take the lead in delivering all training, qualifications and end-point assessments. 3: Find your perfect apprentice Through your provider and/or the National Apprenticeship Service, you can view all the applicants, carry out shortlisting, organise pre- interviews and assessments, arrange formal interviews and accept/reject applicants. Depending on how involved you want to be, the majority of the above can be undertaken by the training provider. 4: Who pays? It is your responsibility to pay the apprentice wage and your provider will advise on the appropriate hourly rate. If you’re a levy payer you will pay automatically for the apprenticeship through your digital account, whilst non-levy payers attract full or part- funding. Again, your training provider will advise and give you all the information around funding and any grants that may be available to you at the time of recruitment. [The government is offering a financial incentive to employers who hire an apprentice from now until 31 January 2021; go to www.gov.uk for more information.] 5: Getting the apprentice on board It is best practice for you to draw up an apprentice contract in advance of employment starting and initial meetings should clearly communicate what is expected of the learner and what the journey looks like. Both parties should ensure all safeguarding, equality and diversity procedures are met and adhered to throughout the entirety of the apprenticeship. We advise our businesses to create a training matrix for their apprentices whilst they are at work and, if possible, allocate a mentor or coach to support them during this training. Finally, talking is good. Regular catch-ups and ensuring the apprentice is getting what they want out of the partnership is a good thing as it may identify problems that can be overcome quickly or opportunities to increase the learning experience. It is always a good idea to let your apprentice know if they are doing well and meeting your standards. The above should be enough to get you started, but it is important to recognise that the landscape is always changing and the right training provider should be able to guide you through the changes and ensure you and your apprentices have the best possible experience. Expert advice on the business of running a garment decoration company Q&A Bekki Phillips is managing director of In- Comm Training, one of the UK’s leading training providers. It promises a truly ‘Ofsted Outstanding’ learning experience across its three technical academies. www.in-comm.co.uk