p38-39 Feature mar6 3/3/09 17:18 Page 38
knowledge apprenticeships
ttglive.com
Investing in staff
You’re hired
The economic downturn has driven many industries to slash their training budgets and
suspend their apprenticeship and graduate schemes. But as Olivia Hemmings finds out,
now is the best time to invest in new blood
N
o one would extol the virtues of means they are more productive – leading managers that started off as apprentices.
apprenticeship schemes more to greater profitability. We have a higher retention among staff
than astute businessman Alan Another advantage, says Chris Bailey, chief who came through this scheme,” she says,
Sugar. So as last week marked executive at training provider Intraining, is which help curtail pricey recruitment costs.
National Apprenticeship Week, he was the the opportunity which apprenticeship
first to give the campaign his full support. schemes provide the employer to “mould How it works
The importance of apprenticeships in and train staff for the workings of their own While apprenticeships are usually regarded
travel remains as high as ever, too. More so systems”. This brings the added benefit of as a scheme for school leavers, they are in
in the current business climate where bene- helping to fill skills’ gaps in current and fact open to all ages above 16 years.
fits such as long-term cost savings and staff future workforces. The framework of an apprenticeship will
loyalty make them a worthy investment. He also believes the schemes help staff vary within each company. At Hays Travel,
The Co-operative Travel takes on 30 retention levels, explaining that apprentices for example, apprentices complete a two-
apprentices every year. Gaynor Golding, value the organisation and its training and year programme and gain an NVQ Level 3.
learning and development manager, believes support systems, so frequently stay to work While most of this time involves in-store on-
a key attraction of employing apprentices is their way up to management levels. the-job training, the apprentice spends be-
that often their enthusiasm and motivation Golding agrees: “We have many regional tween 10 and 12 days of each year with the
38 06.03.2009
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