Print Businesses Lead Charge On Apprenticeship Opportunities

As was in the news just the other day, a focus on a new procurement apprenticeship has been garnering attention of late. As one of our specialist areas, we naturally took an interest – but it seems that procurement isn’t the only area in which we specialise that is seeing a focus on apprenticeships come to light; according to the Print Week website, print companies are leading the charge when it comes to apprenticeship opportunities.

In fact, 41% of print SMEs actively take on and train up apprentices – a figure far higher than other industry sectors. This figure comes from the Close Brothers Business Barometer, which questioned more than 700 SME owners and senior managers on their apprentice practices. It was found that many other industries fell behind print, including transport, public sector businesses, engineering and retail.

Discussing the role of apprenticeships in the print industry, it was stated by 57% of respondents that taking on apprentices gives the business access to the best young talent, 29% said they improve business productivity, and 14% said it allows them to develop skillsets that they consider to be lacking in the existing workforce.

This is particularly positive as the government also recently announced that apprenticeships are to be given equal legal treatment as degrees and a staggering three million apprenticeships are to be made available within the next five years. So print professionals (and, as stated previously, possibly procurement professionals also) will benefit massively.

Commenting on apprenticeships not only in the print industry but as a whole, skills minister Nick Boles said: “Businesses know their value so it’s high time they were recognised both by the public and in law.”

Why do you think the print industry specifically is so progressive when it comes to apprenticeships? Do you believe giving apprenticeships the same legal standing of degrees will aid industries?