Red tape and costs put off SMEs from offering apprenticeships
16 May 2014
Red tape and potential cost are putting off SMEs from taking on apprentices, according to new research.
Fri, 16 May 2014Red tape and potential cost are putting off SMEs from taking on apprentices, according to new research.
According to the research by LifeSkills, an organisation created with Barclays that helps businesses connect with young people at school to help them become work-ready, two-thirds (64%) of SMEs don’t currently offer apprenticeships, with one in 10 citing red tape and costs as the reason (10% and 11% respectively).
Other reasons given were:
• Lack of internal team resource to set up and manage a programme
• Not relevant to my business
• Unable to find suitable candidates
LifeSkills has practical, free resources for teachers so that young people can learn valuable skills in the classroom before they go into a business.
The research also reveals that one in eight (13%) young people close to leaving secondary school say they will look for an apprenticeship when they leave education.
Kirstie Mackey, head of LifeSkills at Barclays, says that although SMEs are “the UK’s life blood” when it comes to offering employment, the research shows that SMEs still perceive barriers to offering on-the-job training or helping young people to become work-ready.
Mackey adds: “Not only does it create a skills gap that holds back a generation from realising their potential but also means a potential productivity gain of over £1.5bn to the UK economy goes untapped.”
According to the research by LifeSkills, an organisation created with Barclays that helps businesses connect with young people at school to help them become work-ready, two-thirds (64%) of SMEs don’t currently offer apprenticeships, with one in 10 citing red tape and costs as the reason (10% and 11% respectively).
Other reasons given were:
• Lack of internal team resource to set up and manage a programme
• Not relevant to my business
• Unable to find suitable candidates
LifeSkills has practical, free resources for teachers so that young people can learn valuable skills in the classroom before they go into a business.
The research also reveals that one in eight (13%) young people close to leaving secondary school say they will look for an apprenticeship when they leave education.
Kirstie Mackey, head of LifeSkills at Barclays, says that although SMEs are “the UK’s life blood” when it comes to offering employment, the research shows that SMEs still perceive barriers to offering on-the-job training or helping young people to become work-ready.
Mackey adds: “Not only does it create a skills gap that holds back a generation from realising their potential but also means a potential productivity gain of over £1.5bn to the UK economy goes untapped.”
