Ladder for the Black Country creates 140 apprenticeships

Nationally, and locally, more and more are choosing the apprenticeship route - and more employers are turning to training their own staff.

There were 440,400 apprenticeship starts in the 2013/14 and 147,500 between August and October last year across the country.

This represents a 57 per cent rise over five years.

But some firms may still be thinking 'what is in it for me?'.

Business development director at Performance Through People, Gill Durkin explains the benefits of taking on an apprentice.

She said: "Apprenticeships are the perfect fix for some companies - especially those that are in manufacturing and have very specific skills.

"The allow you to train your own people how you want them - not how they have been trained by someone else.

"They are also ideal for succession planning. Apprentices are more likely to stay with your company and progress through, providing stability to your business.

"One of the key reservations from companies is the training cost and the time it takes to train them.

"Training is essential - it is a commitment between the employer and the employee. When you consider the costs of having to constantly advertise for staff, have vacant positions, and still not necessarily get the right people through, the question turns on its head and is a case of can you afford not to have an apprentice.

"We have young people you are hungry for work, they are eager, and ambitious - they just need help on getting on the right route with the opportunity to upskill."

And for small and medium-sized companies there is a government grant of £1,500 is available providing they match the criteria.

The first apprentice to be taken on under the Ladder for the Black Country was 20-year-old Stephanie Lloyd, who started a 12-month work placement with the treasury department at A F Blakemore .

Since starting in October, Stephanie has flourished and the company has taken on two more apprentices - Marko Mal in its IT department, and Bradley Bryan in the accounts department.

Stephanie said: "The apprenticeship has been going really well. I am working on my qualification and hope to move on to the next level after. I am learning new skills, have had good feedback, and is a route I would recommend as I am enjoying it."

Paul Cowley, head of corporate affairs, said: "We have received plenty of positive feedback from staff across the business on A.F. Blakemore's recent apprentices. All have made a significant contribution to the company, bringing essential new skills into the workplace and helping provide vital support with everyday tasks.

"Each department has been able to tailor its apprenticeships to meet its own requirements and fulfil specific job roles, ensuring that the needs of the business are fully met.

"Hiring apprentices is a great way of attracting people with fresh new ideas to your business and ensuring that you have the skilled workers you need for the future."

Research by learn direct found that apprentices add £2,000 value to a business's bottom line and that 96 per cent of those companies that take on apprentices say they have benefited from it.

Schools have also been engaging with the apprenticeship campaign - with more and more pupils choosing the apprenticeship route.

And Office of National Statistics figures reveal that more than a quarter of graduates were paid less per hour than those on work-based training apprenticeship schemes during 2013.

The Black Country has the highest youth unemployment rates in England.

Since the launch of the Ladder, which has Prince Andrew as its patron, in September more than 40 employers have pledged to create 145 apprenticeships. And 302 young adults have come forward looking for work through the Ladder for the Black Country – which is spearheaded by the Express & Star, the Vine Trust charity, PTP and the Black Country Chamber of Commerce.

To either offer an apprenticeship, or to investigate work available for young people visit www.ladderfortheblackcountry.co.uk or call 03332 409699.