The Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce is leading by example when it comes to taking on apprentices.

Today brings National Apprenticeship Week to an end and the Chamber, which supports businesses throughout Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield has a range of apprenticeship graduates working for it.

Maggie Oxley-Bryan, programme administrator for the Chamber’s subsidiary company The West Yorkshire Enterprise Agency completed her level 3 in business administration in April 2013. Maggie said: “I feel I now take a more positive approach to work and can take on extra responsibility with ease due to the skills I gained throughout my time as an apprentice.”

Hayley Nutt was made redundant in 2008 and found an opportunity through an apprenticeship scheme with the Chamber’s international trade support arm MY Export Hub. She explained “Fortunately, being a mature student helped me in my apprenticeship in terms of building relationships with the tutors. They were really supportive in fast tracking and supporting me.”

The Chamber’s youngest apprentice, Sadie Barkworth, began her apprenticeship after completing college. She has now completed her level 2 business administration NVQ.

She said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity at the Chamber through an apprenticeship and I am now in the process of beginning my level 3.”

“Being an apprentice has helped me gain a variety of new skills and has also given me the ability to exceed in the skills I have learned. In addition, becoming an apprentice has boosted my confidence, I now feel I can make and carry out decisions by myself and feel confident that the decision I have made is correct and will impact the team and our work positively.”

Businesses can find out how other firms are benefiting from taking on apprentices.

Around 99% of all businesses in the UK are small businesses yet the proportion of these taking up apprenticeships is under 10% – less than half that of larger companies.

Now a website called Apprenticemakers has been set up which gives business owners thinking of hiring apprentices the chance to talk to those who already have. It is at www.apprenticemakers.org.uk .

A recent survey found that the main reasons why employers struggle with recruiting an apprentice – particularly for the first time – were a lack of understanding about potential funding (64%), where to recruit an apprentice (41%), how to support their long-term contribution to the business (33%) and how to ensure they deliver a return on investment (28%).

Apprenticemakers will provide the opportunity for small businesses to connect with companies to share experiences, ask questions and be inspired about their future as an employer of apprentices. It is hoped that by enabling business owners to connect with organisations who have already benefited from bringing apprentices into their companies, it will help break down some of the barriers currently preventing more small businesses from taking on an apprentice.

The scheme has been developed by National Apprenticeship Service in conjunction with Small Firms Enterprise Development Initiative (SFEDI),

Jason Holt, chief executive of Holts Group of Companies which has employed apprentices across its retail jewellery business for many years, said: “Apprenticeships really deliver for small businesses. Hiring apprentices helps businesses grow their own talent by developing a motivated, skilled and qualified workforce.”

For more information go to www.apprenticemakers.org.uk .

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