Strengthen your workforce cost effectively

More than 130,000 employers in the UK benefit from taking on an apprentice – you could be one of them.

Apprenticeships are a great way of combining on-the-job training and assessment with a technical, college-based programme. Many Apprenticeships can be fully-funded by the Learning and Skills Council, making them a cost effective method of training staff.

New Apprenticeship grants for employers

A new grant of £1,500 is available for employers in the South East to employ apprentices aged 16-24 years. The grant is to encourage small to medium sized employers to take on an unemployed 16-24 year old as an apprentice and is available until 31 October 2010. Applying for the grant is simple and straightforward. Please contact employers@highbury.ac.uk or phone (023) 9238 3131 for further details. 

What are the benefits to your business?

Apprenticeships are designed to meet the needs of businesses in industries ranging
from hairdressing and furniture making to bricklaying, plumbing and engineering.

By taking on an apprentice employers can develop the specialist skills they need to keep pace with the best practices in their sector. In addition, employers can:

• Bring new/young talent into your business
• Reverse ageing workforce
• Succession planning for you key team player/leaders
• Provide continuous workforce recruitment at trainee level

Employees also benefit from Apprenticeships because they can earn a wage while developing their skills and working towards nationally recognised qualification.

Recruiting an apprentice

Employers can recruit an apprentice directly through Highbury College. Alternatively, they may have an existing member of staff who they feel could succeed as an apprentice.

For more information about Apprenticeships at Highbury email employers@highbury.ac.uk or telephone (023) 9238 3131.