Wales told apprenticeships add great value to business

According to research done by Populus, almost 90 per cent of employers said training apprentices resulted in better motivation among their workforce.

This is one of the reasons why the Welsh government is urging employers to offer more apprenticeships despite the tough economic climate.

Figures show the number of apprenticeships in Wales dropped by 15 per cent over the past three years from 42,590 in 2007/08 to 36,380 in 2009/10.

Jeff Cuthbert, Welsh Deputy Minister for Skills, suggested companies would be more productive if they offered apprenticeships.

Mr Cuthbert said, ‘Research shows that apprenticeships are good for business. Employers who use this form of training say it leads to better motivated workforces and an improved bottom line.’

The Welsh Government’s research among employers who had trained apprentices showed 77 per cent believed it made their firms more competitive, with 76 per cent saying it led to higher overall productivity. Nick Servini, BBC Wales business correspondent, agreed with the government’s view and said apprenticeships are a useful way of getting young people employed.

He said, ‘There is an average staff retention rate for apprenticeship schemes of over 80%, which means it is a very effective way of getting young people into the workforce.’

Mr Cuthbert has just launched a week of events designed to raise the profile of apprenticeships among employers.

Have you ever taken on an apprentice?
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