Apprenticeships are key to effective training within our industry. The WITForum encourages its members to invest in training, particularly via the apprenticeship route.
Benefits for the apprentice:
- The opportunity to learn and earn at the same time. Typically you would work four days for the employer and have a day release to your local college, and most apprenticeships will last 2 or 3 years.
- Take an apprenticeship in carpentry, carpentry and joinery, wood occupations, wood machining and a number of other areas.
- Gain a recognised qualification, usually an NVQ Level 3 in your chosen field.
- Work in an exciting and creative industry.
Benefits for the employer:
- Gain funding to train your apprentices (usually full training costs for apprentices aged 16-19 and part costs for apprentices aged 20-65).
- Train the apprentices to meet your business needs.
- Encourage loyalty - most qualified apprentices will stay on with you for many years.
- Register with the National Apprenticeship Service and they will find you apprentices and a college to send them to.
- A recession is the best time to train. With a lighter work load, you can spend time with your apprentices and have a qualified work force ready for the upturn.
- Businesses that train and invest in apprentices are twice as likely to survive the recession.
Find out more about the National Apprentice Service http://www.apprenticeships.org.uk/Be-An-Apprentice/Searching-for-Vacancies.aspx
