Our findings reinforce previous research
The challenges in the apprenticeship system we found through our research reinforce those identified in previous work by both Nesta and BEIS.
Financial investment
For example, the financial barrier to taking on apprentices was the second most popular reason that respondents gave for not offering apprenticeships in BEIS’s study (Figure 1). This was only behind “Not looking to recruit new staff”.
Figure 1: Reasons employers do not offer apprenticeships
Similarly, Nesta’s survey found that the second most common challenge that those who hadn’t taken on an apprentice anticipated facing was the cost to their business (Figure 2).
Challenges associated with taking on an apprentice: Foreseen vs. faced
Image Description
A bar chart titled "Challenges associated with taking on an apprentice: Foreseen vs. faced" compares the percentage of respondents who anticipated certain challenges before hiring an apprentice versus those who actually experienced them. The data includes:
- "Hard to find the right apprentice to fit with the role" (Foreseen: 51%, Faced: 41%)
- "Having an apprentice costs my business too much" (Foreseen: 35%, Faced: 23%)
- "Having an apprentice slows down work" (Foreseen: 27%, Faced: 10%)
- "No nearby colleges delivering training of high enough quality" (Foreseen: 25%, Faced: 31%)
- "Need more guidance on how to support an apprentice" (Foreseen: 18%, Faced: 4%)
- "No nearby colleges delivering relevant training" (Foreseen: 17%, Faced: 21%)
- "Need more guidance with administration associated with taking on an apprentice" (Foreseen: 15%, Faced: 4%)
- "Don’t know where to recruit from" (Foreseen: 11%, Faced: 1%)
- "Takes too long to recruit an apprentice" (Foreseen: 3%, Faced: 3%)
- "Other" (Foreseen: 2%, Faced: 0%)
- "No challenges" (Foreseen: 8%, Faced: 26%)
The chart visually represents these comparisons with coloured bars, showing that some challenges were less significant in practice than anticipated, while others, like training quality, were more problematic than expected.
Desirable personality traits and older apprentices
Although we haven’t noted it as one of the main challenges, our interviews found that many employers have encountered apprentices or apprentice applicants with a poor attitude, little motivation and low willingness to learn. This was also reported in BEIS’s study.
Although it’s not covered in these words in Nesta’s survey, it’s likely that finding an apprentice with a good attitude, motivation and willingness to learn is what many respondents were alluding to when they selected “finding the right apprentice to fit with the role” as a challenge they face when taking on apprentices (Figure 2). This was the most popular challenge selected by respondents.
Some participants in BEIS’s study reported that older apprentices are more likely to have these desirable traits, making them more valuable and preferable to hire, but that it’s usually unaffordable to do so - a sentiment that also arose in our interviews.
Finding appropriate training courses
A common challenge that emerged from our interviews was the difficulty employers faced with finding appropriate college courses or using workarounds in lieu of course availability. Although this theme didn’t arise in BEIS’s study, challenges with finding appropriate colleges for apprentices emerged as a strong theme in Nesta’s survey (Figure 2).
Post-apprenticeship retention
Our interviews suggest that the risk of apprentices leaving an employer soon after finishing their course is very salient to business owners, but may not actually be experienced that much in practice. However, BEIS’s study suggests this may be experienced more widely than our research implies.
