GROWING TALENT IN-HOUSE: WOULD YOUR BUSINESS BENEFIT FROM TAKING ON APPRENTICES?

Whilst hundreds of local organisations are great advocates for apprenticeships in the county, there are still many great businesses in Gloucestershire that are yet to reap the rewards of running an apprenticeship programme.

Hiring an apprentice is an exciting, effective way to grow talent in-house and develop a motivated, skilled and qualified workforce. Benefits include:

� Filling skills gaps – 86% of employers say that apprenticeships help them develop skills relevant to their organisation

� Flexibility – an apprentice's training can be adapted according to the needs of your business

� A fresh perspective – enthusiastic, driven apprentices bring new ideas and energy to your business

“Our HR apprentices have grown in confidence during the programme, and it has enabled them to take on larger and more senior roles in the business. The knowledge acquired and the network they have gained certainly helped during the Covid-19 pandemic. I fully support the apprenticeship approach and it fits in very well with other training solutions such as our graduate programme and internal training courses.” -

Tony Collingwood, General Manager at Trelleborg Sealing Solutions Tewkesbury

Gloucestershire's Apprenticeship Training Provider of the Year

Gloucestershire College is a key cog in the local economy, championing local talent and supporting local businesses to upskill their employees. GC's dedicated team of Business Consultants work with businesses to develop the right apprenticeship programmes to achieve their goals.

Every business that chooses to train apprentices with Gloucestershire College is assigned a personal Training Coordinator for guidance every step of the way. They meet regularly with both the employer and apprentice to discuss progress and training targets.

Teaching staff at GC support apprentices to push the boundaries, test out their knowledge and apply their learning to any challenges they may face.

Receive up to £4000 for every new apprentice hired by 30 September 2021

From April 2021 until 30 September 2021, all businesses will receive £3,000 for every new apprentice hired. With the existing £1,000 incentive for taking on a

16-18 apprentice, this now means businesses can receive up to £4,000 per apprentice recruited.

The news is being welcomed by Julie Tegg, Director of Employer Training at Gloucestershire College. “The increased financial support available for businesses announced as part of the government’s Plan for Jobs is great news for Gloucestershire businesses who are already bucking the national trend and continuing to back local talent and bring apprentices into their organisations, despite the challenges brought about by Covid-19.

“It is particularly good news for those employers looking to take advantage of the redevelopment of our Cheltenham campus for IT, Cyber and Engineering which will be ready for new apprentices joining us in September of this year.”

As an employer, you can take on apprentices at different levels, from school leavers and university graduates to individuals who want to further their careers or change career direction completely. You can hire someone new or upskill an existing employee and get funding from the government to help pay for apprenticeship training.