So where do we find good apprentices for our businesses?

A video company I work with very much plays their part in apprenticeships and work experience. They cover dance schools, private and state schools’ dramas, dance, shows, and then corporate work, too. Even having previously set expectations with the school, they have found that the kids expect to turn up on day one on work experience, be handed a £10k HD camera and send a mission in darkest Surrey with the message ‘Go on my son, fill yer boots!’

The most recent young man on a two week work experience to find out about the big wide world turned up on day one and his answer to the first question, ‘Hello, how are you?’ was  ‘Tired’.

Are teachers out of touch, so over worked and having to be so political and watchful over success statistics? Are they so engrossed in keeping kids occupied and interested in anything at all so they stay the school day that they cannot coach them the basics of work experience? Should parents be interested in coaching their kids on how to get the best from a work experience and creating a good impresssion? Can parents coach their kids anymore?

I’m erring on the side of caution…if they cannot manage work experience, show some interest, consider that if they’re good, they may get employed, why should I risk my business to complete indifference? Is it for me to teach these kids values? (That’s not rhetorical, it’s a serious question!)

See next blog . ‘The Apprentice 3′ for a true story …..

The Government – whichever flavour- has been talking about their desire to seeing the huge numbers of young jobless involved in apprenticeships.  Good Plan.

At the (topped up) salary they recommend, it certainly seems reasonable to consider the options.

It’s a balancing act. Let’s take an office-based skills apprenticeship.  On one hand you may have someone who is keen and quick to learn, you can leave with a set of procedures, some ideas, and let them crack on with it. They will need absolute guidance on everything from telephone answering and message taking upwards. This is your brand, don’t forget and this person will be there to sustain it.  But you will also have to spend quality time with these young people for them to understand your values and where you set the bar for your company.

Every teenager worth his or her salt will try and short cut any system, that’s what makes innovation! Loads of ideas will be great ones.. so take them all seriously… we can certainly learn from each other. I’d also recommend that you start out clearly with the notion that this is not some form of slave labour.

On the other hand, it is a little worrying though when you hear about a 17 year old ‘entrepreneur’ who says he is an expert in marketing, mergers, and insurance. (A business friend said to me, ”Blimey, I’ve got pants older than him.’) Good luck for the pluckiness, young man, but back pack the Himalayas for 6 months then come back in five years with a relevant degree. Then we’ll talk.

Through the Internet, have we really fabricated a one-stop-shop of excellence for young people? Is the Web now the catch-all for instant knowledge?  If in doubt, Google it? Sure, where would we be without Google etc.. what a fantastic enrichment they’ve created for us all through great forward thinking. But is that all it takes?  If so, let’s not bother with further education, business books on awesome new stuff, trends and all that haughty mumbo jumbo….let’s just get straight to the action!   What? What? Google and Nike? Now there’s a meaty opportunity for you, 17 year old entrepreneur!  We leave that one in your capable hands… now come back in three weeks with the merger proposal.

Let’s teach the fundamentals with some structure to our kids… there are no easy fast-track solutions. You don’t build a house starting from the roof. But it really is down to us and our sense of creating a future for our young people, giving them the breaks they deserve to make the difference.

paul.sampson@ignition4business.com

Among the facts : *

• 80% of those employers who employ apprentices agree they make their workplace more productive.
• The National Minimum Wage for apprentices is £2.50 per hour. Many employers prefer to pay more however, and research shows that the average salary is approx £170 per week.
• Employers who take on a 16-18 year old apprentice only pay their salary. The Government will fund their training.
• There are over 85,000 employers offering Apprenticeships in more than 130,000 locations; there are almost 200 frameworks suitable for hundreds of job roles.
• 83% of employers who employ apprentices rely on their Apprenticeships programme to provide the skilled workers that they need for the future.
• One in five employers are hiring more apprentices to help them through the tough economic climate

*   http://www.apprenticeships.org.uk/Employers/The-Basics.aspx