KBB and merchant services provider Simon Acres Group has hosted a roundtable discussion to examine the barriers to hiring apprentices. The event, organised in partnership with apprenticeship training provider Workpays, was held at the Stanwick Hotel in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire and aimed to empower and inspire the industry to employ more apprentices.
The roundtable panel included participants from leading apprenticeship bodies, training providers and KBB retailers. It was also joined by guest speaker Stephen Johnson, MD at Quooker UK and Ireland, who shared insights based on his experience of hiring young people and promoting the training and development of his colleagues at Quooker.
The main barriers that were identified during the event are:
1) A lack of information of the appropriate channels to explore when it comes to hiring apprentices, including being unaccustomed with apprenticeship training providers
2) Unfamiliarity with recognised and approved apprenticeship standards within the industry
3) Uncertainty around costs: The perceived financial burden of hiring apprentices is a concern for many businesses, as is a lack of awareness of the grants that are available
4) A lack of training awareness: On-the-job training requirements associated with apprenticeships are often unclear to businesses, including the amount of time required to be allocated to training apprentices
5) Confusing terminology and jargon: Many businesses experience confusion due to the vast amount of apprenticeship bodies, abbreviations and unclear language that exists
Simon Acres Group MD Simon Acres said: “Apprenticeships are a vital aspect to creating an experienced, knowledgeable and skilled KBB workforce. Hosting a lively and insightful roundtable on this important topic provided the opportunity to identify the challenges that prevent businesses from hiring apprentices, in addition to highlighting the ways in which these barriers can be overcome.
“With the support of Workpays, we hope to establish a collaborative approach to bring more apprentices into our sector. We’re encouraging other businesses to get involved, and to work collaboratively with us to address the challenges surrounding hiring apprentices and to showcase the many benefits that apprenticeships offer, while driving positive change and growth in our industry.”
