What are Apprenticeships? Apprenticeships are work-based learning opportunities which allow young people to gain qualifications and relevant skills, whilst on the job. There are currently three types of apprenticeship available: Foundation Apprenticeships, Modern Apprenticeships and Graduate Apprenticeships.  Why Hire an Apprentice? At DYW, we believe that upskilling your workforce is an investment in your organisation’s future. Did you know that you can train your future workforce, ease skills gaps and recruitment pressures by hiring an apprentice? Through offering work-based learning opportunities such as Foundation Apprenticeships, you can provide young people with the opportunity to gain qualifications and skills that your business needs. This helps you get ahead with training new recruits by ensuring that young people have the opportunity to prepare for the world of work whilst still in school. Additionally, all levels of apprenticeship allow you, as an employer, to take control in succession planning through preparing the next generation of leaders within your organisation, and training them in the specific skills that are required within your industry. Apprenticeships can help increase innovation within your organisation. FES Group is just one example of an organisation that has achieved great success with the help of an apprentice. Currently in his second year of a Modern Apprenticeship with FES Group, Mandeep Singh has helped to reduce CO2 emissions and reduce bills for customers. As a result of his amazing contribution, Mandeep has been nominated as a finalist in the Scottish Apprenticeship Awards, taking place on 8th March. Your business or organisation, like FES Group, can benefit greatly from investing in a skilled workforce.  Connecting with your Future Workforce in Schools and Colleges Developing the Young Workforce can support you in reaching your future apprentices through a wide range of work inspiration and preparation activities. By connecting with future talent, you can inspire young people to consider a career in your industry. This can help you to raise awareness of the apprenticeship opportunities that you currently, or plan to, offer. Why not deliver a class talk, skills session, or attend a career event? These can raise awareness of your organisation’s current and future opportunities, whilst supporting young people to develop necessary skills. Connect with your local DYW Regional Group to find out about programmes, upcoming events in your area, and how to get involved. Attract your Future Workforce through Industry-specific Activities Do you want to attract applications from young people who are passionate about, and committed to, pursuing a career within your industry? Would you also like to inspire those who may not have considered your industry as a possible destination? Through workplace visits and taster sessions, you can show young people what to expect when working for your organisation. This helps young people to make an informed decision on whether the role is suitable for them, before they apply. Our ‘Construction Work Tasters’ programme, supported by CITB, helps employers to organise and host work taster sessions which aim to expand young people’s perception of the construction industry and attract fresh talent. Kier Group have delivered work taster sessions through DYW, allowing young people to learn about roles beyond what is traditionally associated with the construction industry. Elliot Gentles is currently studying for an apprenticeship in Construction Management after refining his career goals: “I’ve had a great interest in construction from a young age but struggled to pinpoint what path I wanted to go down. After looking at the many routes into the industry, I loved the idea of management. Getting to oversee all the different trades has been such a fantastic opportunity. I thoroughly look forward to my career with Kier and excited for what lies ahead.”  Further emphasising the importance of raising awareness of the roles and pathways within construction and the built environment, we are delighted to support Screwfix in their Trade Link campaign, which aims to encourage businesses and organisations within the trades to offer apprenticeships. John Mewett, Screwfix CEO said: “Research by Kingfisher shows that we are facing a potential shortage of 250,000 qualified tradespeople by 2030. It’s vital that we work with Governments, colleges, schools, and our customers to promote careers in the trade to ensure there is a strong pipeline of young talent going into the industry." "We know and understand the complexities of taking on apprentices and our customers can play a key role in protecting the future of the industry. We hope Trade Link is a valuable resource that provides a simple starting point for our Scottish customers, who are looking to support the next generation of tradespeople in Scotland.” Visit the Trade Link campaign page to learn more and get involved. Regardless of your industry, workplace visits and taster sessions can benefit recruitment and retention within your organisation, and provide opportunity to connect with young people who are a good match for the apprenticeships you offer. Next Steps Whether you have a day, an hour or more time, we can help you to connect with your future workforce. If you operate nationally, get in touch with DYW Scotland or contact your local DYW Regional Group to get involved locally. If you currently offer apprenticeship opportunities, your local DYW Regional Group may be able to help you attract more applicants by sharing the vacancy. For more information on apprenticeships, check out the Apprenticeships website. Be sure to follow DYW Scotland on Instagram, X and LinkedIn to stay up to date on announcements for training sessions such as ‘Delivering Meaningful Work Placements,’ alongside insight sessions with our partners and more. Comments are closed.
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