Unlocking growth: how apprenticeships deliver real ROI for your organisation

Find out more about apprenticeships and the potential ROI they provide in this blog by Amy Turner, Business Development Professional on the NU London apprenticeships team. During National Apprenticeship Week, you can find events all over the country (both virtual and in-person) on the official National Apprenticeship Week event map.

Do apprenticeships provide ROI to organisations?

In today’s competitive workplace landscape, it’s crucial that organisations provide a clear pathway of development for their employees in order to retain top talent. However with so many competing demands on a company’s time and money, it can be difficult to establish effective training initiatives that satisfy both the employee’s desire for self-development and the strategic priorities of an organisation. During National Apprenticeship Week, we want to highlight how apprenticeships can be a holistic training solution that fulfils both employee and employer expectations. 

What are apprenticeships?

Gone are the days when apprenticeships were limited to craftsmanship and trades - today there are over 700 apprenticeship standards available in the UK, ranging from arborists to accountants. This plethora of options extends to life sciences and biotech with options like scientist, clinical trials specialist and data scientist all available. Apprenticeships combine education (with standards ranging from Level 2 - Level 7) with practical work experience, offering a versatile workforce development solution that can be customised to meet your specific workplace challenges.

How can they benefit organisations?

• Flexible delivery

Apprenticeships are designed so that the majority of learning takes place on the job, complemented by dedicated study days. Apprenticeships flex to employer needs meaning that apprenticeship schemes can tailor coursework, projects and additional certifications to directly address your organisation’s present challenges, empowering your employees to make a direct impact. Study days are often flexible - for example, at NU London we have multiple cohort start dates and the majority of off-the-job learning is done online, making it possible to accommodate and plan around workplace priorities. 

• Bridge vital skills gaps

With the constant introduction of new technologies, many organisations are facing a shortage of employees who have sufficient digital skills and knowledge to bring their organisations into the future. Apprenticeships are driving innovation, offering an innovative pathway for new hires or existing employees to upskill or re-skill. For example, at NU London, we focus on emerging technologies, like AI, ensuring that your organisation stays up-to-date and relevant. With core competencies including data analytics and coding, and industry-specific certifications built into programmes, rather than taking away from an employee’s work capacity, apprentices are equipped with tailored knowledge that can improve workplace practices and efficiency. 

• Funded support 

Apprenticeship schemes offer excellent value as the training pathway has various funding options. For employers with an annual pay bill of £3m and over, apprenticeships are fully funded through the apprenticeship levy. For smaller employers, there are other routes to full funding, including at least 95% government co-investment (with additional funding for apprentices meeting certain criteria) and the opportunity to have the additional 5% funded via levy transfer from a larger supporting employer. Lots of training providers, local councils and other organisations are ready to help pair employers to make the most of levy transfer opportunities.  

• Create new and diverse talent pipelines

Apprenticeships open the door to connect with talent, who may have the relevant skill sets to address challenges at your organisation but lack a traditional degree. A degree apprenticeship in particular offers fantastic value to new or existing employees helping you to attract and retain talented staff through offering a high-value training package with a fully-funded degree, at little or no cost to the business. 

• Save on recruitment costs 

There are excellent and cost-effective ways to recruit apprentices. First and foremost as you are offering a high-value training package - investing in people with on-the-job support and a real qualification - any adverts are likely to attract a higher level of interest than a usual job. From there, there are a range of free or low-cost ways to promote apprenticeships, from the well-used gov.uk “Find an Apprenticeship” service to the often lesser-known benefits offered by training providers. Once you partner with an organisation to deliver an apprenticeship, they’re often keen to help you fill the role which reduces the logistic load for HR and management teams. At NU London we offer a free, full recruitment service for employers taking on apprentices, from posting ads and screening CVs to telephone interviews and help at assessment days.

Helpful resources to get started

If you are interested in exploring apprenticeships as a training development opportunity for your employees, here are three resources that are a good starting place:

1. Apprenticeship funding - you can find all the details on the government apprenticeship funding page or we include a helpful summary in our Higher and Degree Apprenticeships Guide for Employers
2. Ifate - you can search all available apprenticeship standards to find the one that is the best fit for the training needs of your organisation
3. Supporting your apprentice advice as well as a simple toolkit for employers to boost diversity through apprenticeships. 

Apprenticeships are a high-value dynamic training pathway that offers organisations a lot of flexibility and customisation. During National Apprenticeship Week, you can find events all over the country (both virtual and in-person) on the official National Apprenticeship Week event map that may be a helpful fit for learning more about apprenticeships.

If you are interested in apprenticeships at NU London, you can find out more about our apprenticeship programmes. Alternatively, a member of our NU London apprenticeship team would be happy to speak with you to answer any general apprenticeship funding or other queries you may have. Please direct these queries to [email protected].