Have you got what it takes to rise to the top? That’s what this year’s National Apprenticeship Week is asking, as the annual event returns for its ninth year from March 14th to 18th 2016.
Co-ordinated by the National Apprenticeship Service, the week celebrates apprenticeships and the positive impact they have on individuals, businesses and the wider economy.
With businesses reporting an average increase in productivity of £214 per week when they hire apprentices and the fact that from April 2016 employers will no longer have to pay employer National Insurance contributions for apprentices aged under 25, taking on an apprentice is not just about expanding your workforce and capacity, it makes sound financial sense too.
Kevin Wellman, chief executive officer of the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE), said: “The new Trailblazer Apprenticeships have moved on greatly since the last National Apprenticeship Week, with over 1,000 businesses nationwide involved in designing the new apprenticeship standards across a range of industries. The future of plumbing and heating apprentices coming through the new system looks bright, as they will be far better equipped to enter an industry where the pace of technological change is fast and a wide range of professional and personal skills are required.”