Taking on an apprentice

Judi Wheeler, national delivery director at JTL, spoke to Registered Gas Engineer to explain the process of taking on a plumbing and heating apprentice.

Many gas engineers start out as sole teaders, working on the tools during the day and often completing their business admin or following up on quotes during evenings and weekends.

But what do you do when your business grows and you’ve got more work than you can handle? Do you work longer hours and try to cram in as many jobs as possible? Or should you bring in some help?

Knowing when to expand

If taking on an apprentice is a relatively new concept for you and your business, it can be difficult to know where to start and whether your business is ready to take on someone new, especially if you’ve been a sole trader up to this point.

There are a few things you should consider to begin with, such as your current business plans and future prospects.

If your business is likely to expand in the near future, we

What are the benefits of taking on an apprentice?

There can be some misconceptions and worries around taking on an apprentice. This can be anything from the amount of paperwork involved, to people feeling that they don’t have enough time to train up new learners.

The reality is that once you have onboarded a new apprentice, many business owners will have an extra set of hands to help them with the practical work. This can enable them to take a step back from some day-to-day tasks and focus on the direction of the business. Some companies have told us that their earnings increased after taking on a new recruit.

When it comes to completing the paperwork, if you recruit an apprentice through JTL, we’ll help at every step of the process: from sourcing the right person to relieving you of the headache of admin once the apprentice starts

What should I do first?

would suggest that now is the perfect time to consider taking on an apprentice. Not only will it give you the opportunity to share the day-to-day workload while you focus more on your business’s growth, but it will also mean that you can train up a new member of staff who is truly passionate about the plumbing and heating industry.

Equally, if you’ve been looking to employ someone and just can’t find the right person who ticks all the boxes, taking on an apprentice can be an alternative way to tackle the current skills shortage while futureproofing your business and sharing your invaluable knowledge and experience.

and continuing this support throughout the apprenticeship. We offer all our employers a dedicated JTL training officer, who will be assigned to your apprentice to help both them and you through the process, offering guidance and support.

How do I pay them?

In England, you’re responsible for paying your apprentice at least the national minimum wage for their normal working hours and any training they do as part of their apprenticeship. On our website, we explain your responsibilities as an employer and how the apprenticeship funding works.

Talk to an apprenticeship provider about taking on an apprentice so that they can help you decide whether it’s right for your business. When both parties are happy to progress with the process, you will be matched with the apprentice who is right for your business, or the provider can help you with your recruitment if you prefer to do that directly and talk you through any funding questions.

What responsibilities do I have?

As an employer there are certain responsibilities that you will need to be aware of before welcoming an apprentice into your business. For example, a training officer will visit to check that you take training and health and safety seriously: this is called a preplacement vetting check.

As soon as your apprentice starts, you’ll need to give them a formal induction to your company. You also need to talk to them about what you expect of them and what they can expect of you. If needed, your apprentice will also attend maths and English sessions to achieve their Functional Skills or Essential Skills Wales qualifications. ■

JTL is a leading apprenticeship provider in the building services engineering sector. As a not-for-profit charity, JTL offers advanced apprenticeships in electrical installation, engineering maintenance, mechanical engineering services comprising plumbing, alongside heating and ventilation. It serves around 8,000 apprentices and 3,800 employers in four regions across England and Wales. More information about JTL and the process of taking on an apprentice is at www.jtltraining.com