Make a genius decision, recruit an apprentice

One of the leading training providers in Wales, based in Welshpool, is encouraging employers to recruit an apprentice or upskill an existing employee on an apprenticeship programme funded by the Welsh Government. 

The call from Cambrian Training Company (CTC), which has offices pan-Wales, comes as the country celebrates Apprenticeship Week from February 7-13.

The award-winning company is the leading provider of apprenticeships to the hospitality industry in Wales, including Craft Cuisine and British Institute of Innkeepers.

In addition, the company delivers apprenticeships in Food and Drink Manufacture, Butchery, Health and Social Care, Children’s Early Years, Equine, Financial Services, Team Leading and Management, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies, Retail and Customer Service, Sustainable Resource Management and Water Engineering.

CTC says apprenticeships enable cost-effective recruitment, create a pool of talent with a skilled, qualified and motivated workforce, fill skills gaps to meet demands now and in the future and helps businesses grow by recruit, retraining or redeploying their workforce.

One of the hospitality businesses that the company works with is Lake Vyrnwy Hotel at Llanwddyn which has 11 apprentices, aged from 17 to mid-40s.

Managing director Anthony Rosser said: “Apprenticeships are now the cornerstone of our recruitment. It’s a wonderful opportunity for employees to receive structured training, very beneficial for recruitment, staff retention and progression, helps to drive up standards within your business and is easy to organise and administer.”

CTC says apprenticeships are an effective way to grow and elevate a business by upskilling its current staff or expanding by hiring new employees.

In a government survey, 74% of employers said apprenticeships helped them improve the quality of their product or service.

Ensuring that staff have a broad range of knowledge, skills and qualifications is a productive way to take a business to the next level. In a survey, 86% of employers said apprenticeships helped them develop skills relevant to their organisation.

Offering exciting opportunities for staff progression enables a business to show employees its commitment to their continual professional development. 

This in turn improves staff wellbeing, reduces turnover and increases retention. A survey also revealed that 78% of employers said apprenticeships helped them improve productivity. 

Getting support from the local people is vital to develop a business and ensure repeat customers. An easy but effective way for a business to do this is by offering career development to employees, which helps to develop a positive reputation in the local community and assists recruitment.

The Welsh Government offers a number of schemes and incentives to encourage businesses to offer apprenticeships to their employees. CTC provides can help check if a business is eligible for funding support for apprenticeships.

CTC is keen to explode a common myth that hiring an apprentice is a time consuming process. The company’s training officers help to guide a business through the complete process, from finding the correct qualification and form filling to the apprentice search and recruitment process.

For more information about how apprenticeships can elevate a business, email CTC at info@cambriantraining.com.

The Apprenticeship Programme in Wales is funded by the Welsh Government with support from the European Social Fund.

PICTURE: Anthony Rosser, Lake Vyrnwy Hotel’s managing director, with apprentice chef de partie, Talaki Marcellin.