Latest news: SMEs get apprenticeship boost

Small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the UK are set to benefit from new measures on apprenticeships, following the publication of a study by an industry expert. 03/09/2012

According to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) , jeweller and social entrepreneur Jason Holt was commissioned earlier in the year to conduct research into ways of making apprenticeships simpler and more accessible.

Back in 2010, the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES) Employer Perspectives Survey revealed the proportion of small organisations employing an apprentice was only 9.6% - less than half that of large businesses.

Mr Holt's report found that a key reason for this is that many SMEs are unaware of the benefits of taking on apprentices, as well as how to recruit and train them.

He said, 'Whilst apprenticeships offer undoubted growth opportunities for businesses, not enough SMEs are taking advantage.

'This is because they have an outdated view of apprenticeships, are often in the dark, and frequently do not receive the specific training provision their apprentices need.'

Following the research, skills minister John Hayes revealed a number of new measures to be implemented by the government. These include: providing better information for businesses on how to get the right type of training for their apprentices; new standards for training providers; improving communication about apprenticeship schemes through groups that advise SMEs; and improving the Apprenticeship Grant for Employers (AGE).