Apprenticeships are the lifeblood of our industry and the economy we fully support National Apprenticeship Week 2022, taking place next week.
The purpose of the week is to shine a light on the positive differences that apprenticeships make to individuals, employers and to the wider economy.
Something that we know first-hand, as we have been actively providing apprenticeship places for school leavers and career changes. Many of those apprentices have moved up through the company taking on important management and supervisory roles.
Apprentices are a big investment to any company but one that makes good business sense. Apprentices are trained in the right way gaining important insights and knowledge about real manufacturing and design, that a college or university course cannot provide; making them highly valuable additions to the team when they qualify. Whilst there are costs to training this should be off set against the cost of recruitment and after the first year they should be at least covering their costs in productive value.
Whilst academic study and university routes are vitally important for some careers, we have not found the graduates of furniture courses to be of much value to the business, being little more than apprentices after three years study. It is impossible to learn the true realities of a craft from theoretical study, you only gain the essentials of a skill and the understanding of materials by day-to-day interaction with a skilled craftsperson and real-life manufacturing situations.
The benefit of an apprenticeship is clear you get relevant and valuable training and receive an income whilst you study. After three or four years you have gained skills that allow you to be employed in a well-paid job without the baggage of student debt.
The theme for National Apprenticeship Week 2022 is ‘build the future’; reflecting on how Apprenticeships can help individuals to develop the skills and knowledge required for a rewarding career, and how businesses can develop talented workforces who are equipped with the skills and passion for the future.
Managing Director and Owner Neil Stevenson said, “We commit to continuing the rich tradition of furniture making in the UK through Apprenticeships. As we know there is no better way to keep traditional skills and industries alive.
“We wholeheartedly endorse and support National Apprenticeship Week”