How Businesses Are Using Apprenticeships to Bounce Back from the Pandemic

It’s no secret that the last 2 years have not been kind to many businesses, with lockdown closures, uncertain markets and a sharp decline in consumer spending all contributing to the loss of an estimated 400,000 businesses in the first year alone.

It’s no secret that the last 2 years have not been kind to many businesses, with lockdown closures, uncertain markets and a sharp decline in consumer spending all contributing to the loss of an estimated 400,000 businesses in the first year alone.

Retail, hospitality and leisure were unsurprisingly amongst those hardest hit, with an average of 48 shops, restaurants and leisure facilities closing permanently every day during the peak of the pandemic in 2020.

As business owners became more resilient, with many ‘pivoting’ into new areas or adapting their model to suit changing demands of customers. This innovation and resilience has provided a glimmer of hope for many companies trying to bounce back from COVID-19.

Although many employers were forced into pausing recruitment, or making redundancies during the worst-hit time, there is renewed hope with a focus on training and development from employers.

The week commencing 7th February marks National Apprenticeship Week, a week-long celebration which highlights the awareness of apprenticeships for learners and employers. 

Apprenticeships are set to play a key part in the recovery of businesses post-pandemic, with 70% of employers saying that apprenticeships will be vital to their recovery from COVID-19 over the next 12 months according to findings from the Build The Future Apprenticeship Survey from The Open University.

Carina Wills, Co-Owner at Professional Apprenticeships, a private apprenticeship provider in Bristol says “We are seeing unprecedented demand for apprentices at the moment. The landscape is changing, with a greater focus on workplace training and a ‘grow your own’ culture”

She adds “Apprentices add a new dynamic to a team. Their motivation and desire to learn is exactly what employers need as they begin to recover and grow after a challenging few years.”

This is supported by the fact that 66% of employers who supported apprenticeships during the pandemic say it helped them recover more quickly and numbers of apprenticeships are already set to increase beyond pre-COVID levels.

Certainly, apprenticeships are proving a cost-effective way to grow a team, with government-funded training and lower salary expectations to offset the training and mentoring provided.

“What’s exciting is that apprenticeship funding can also be used to upskill existing staff so with many employers valuing staff training and development so highly at the moment and no upper age limit on apprenticeships, they are also using apprenticeships to improve skills in their current team.” Says Adam Rooke, Also Co-Owner of Professional Apprenticeships “This culture of learning is great for staff retention as well as the obvious benefits to the employer of a greater skilled workforce.”