Apprenticeships with Prospect Training Services (PTS)Your Apprenticeship Experts

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Our Guide to Recruiting and Training Apprentices for

your CompanyYour business is always at the forefront of your mind. You want it to grow, and to do that, you need the best people. But how do you find them?

By hiring an apprentice or upskilling a current staff member, you are not only nurturing the talent of an aspiring employee, you are assuring the healthy growth of the industry you work within. On top of that, you also have the opportunity to mould their skill set to build the perfect employee.

The good news is that with new government initiatives such as the apprenticeship levy, not only has there never been a better time for you to take on an apprentice, but they could also be the best thing for your business. What’s more, Prospect Training Services (PTS) will be there every step of the way with any assistance you may need. “I would definitely recommend PTS to other employers,” says a representative of George Bence & Son, one of Gloucestershire’s leading independent builders merchant shares. “Working alongside them has been beneficial to our organisation.”

As apprenticeship ambassadors and experts in our field, we are on hand with any advice or guidance you may have. Take a look through our brochure to help answer any concerns or questions, or call Ewen Saunders on 01452 886 888 for more information.

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Our Apprenticeship Service

Apprenticeships are the futureYoung people are our greatest asset and a resource of new talent and tomorrow’s managers and leaders in business. Apprenticeships are a great way to train new and existing employees with practical skills as well as to take raw talent and mould it to fit the culture and ethos of your business.

The facts and benefits about apprenticeships:• 92% of employers who employ apprentices believe that apprenticeships lead to a more motivated

and satisfied workforce.

• You’ll see an increase in productivity (80% of employers agree) and efficiency, overall improving your business performance.

• Apprenticeships encourage loyal and enthusiastic members of staff as they feel more valued. And remember, apprenticeships are available for both new and current members of staff!

• They provide new skills to give you a competitive edge. 83% of companies who employ apprentices rely on their apprenticeship to provide the skilled workers they need for the future new customers. After all, 81% of consumers prefer to use a company that employs apprentices.

• They will build a pipeline of talent to support the future growth of your business.

• You will be able to recruit at relatively low cost.

• Apprentices develop new ideas and innovations that will take your business forward.

• Apprenticeships raise your profile as a responsible and caring employer in your community.

We at Prospect Training Services can support your business to recruit apprentices for your company and offer apprenticeships in:

• Business Administration

• Customer Service

• Adult Social Care

• Team Leading

• Management.

Our service to employersBy working with PTS, you will be joining a partnership that many employers currently enjoy. You will be working with a company with long-standing experience and expertise for apprenticeships. We utilise cutting-edge technology to assess our apprentices in the workplace, through our own groundbreaking educational app, iObserve.

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PTS have the unique expertise and experience to give you an unparalleled level of service, working with you to:

advise on the right qualification and level of apprenticeship for your needs. Our team will discuss your needs with you and what you are looking for from an apprentice.

establish your eligibility for an Apprenticeship Grant for Employers (AGE). This offers a wage grant towards the cost of taking on an apprentice. You could be eligible for a grant of up to £1,500 per apprentice if you are a small- and medium-sized employer who has not recruited apprentices before or in the last 12 months, and take on an apprentice between 16-24 years old.

agree your recruitment strategy. Our team of HR and recruitment professionals are highly experienced in this area and will work with you to develop an advert, agree a suitable rate of pay and the marketing strategy for your role. We will also develop and agree a flexible recruitment timeline convenient to your business.

recruit and select suitable apprentices. We will run the recruitment process for you and provide regular updates on your process. We will assess all of the applications, saving you time, and then provide you with a shortlist of suitable candidates. We can assist you with the interview process and induct the apprentice once you have appointed one as well.

deliver a flexible service. We will tailor the apprenticeship model so that it meets yours and the apprentice’s needs. We will:

• support you to access public funding for the training where possible

• carry out health and safety assessments

• provide high-quality training and support for your apprentices

• assess and monitor the apprentices during their programme with you.

Here are just some of our clients:

PTS EXCLUSIVES

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Leaps and Bounds, fromTraineeship to Apprentice

Charlotte came to PTS via our traineeship course, a tailor-made programme of support for young people, aged 16-24, in order to improve her maths and English skills and get her ready for employment. Duncan, her manager, and the team at Gloucestershire County Council (GCC) “fell in love” with Charlotte’s unique personality after she showed up at her work placement with a union jack t-shirt, pigtails and one of the strongest work ethics they had seen. Her hard work and sunny disposition paid off. It wasn’t long before she secured an apprenticeship, and found herself back in the council offices as an invaluable team member.

“I am basically the entire admin hub in one person!” Charlottes tells us. “I enjoy it though! It’s a very varied job, you never know what you’re doing from one moment to the next.”

The wonderful thing about apprenticeships and traineeships is that they are adaptable to people of all walks of life, and give young people opportunities they may otherwise not have had. “The support is the important thing,” Duncan says, as we discuss the differences between the different pathways to getting employment. “There’d be an expectation if you got a job the traditional route. You’d get a level of support, but in an apprenticeship, that’s guaranteed for the two year period. We treat Charlotte the same as any employee, so the conditions and responsibility is the same, but we help her through it. We’ve received a lot of help and support from PTS, which has been really good.”

“From my point of view it’s different,” Charlotte adds. “To get a job, normally I wouldn’t have the qualifications needed. For me, getting the apprenticeship was like someone saying, Okay we’ll give you a chance, and if you can prove what you’re worth to us, we will give you a job. I needed that chance. I didn’t need to prove it to PTS, but it gave me chance to prove it to the employer.”

“In a year’s time,” Duncan tell us, “I’d like to see Charlotte in an interview, getting a job within the county council,” and it’s a sentiment Charlotte herself shares. “I hope to remain as admin and in my department or become a participation officer.” In the meantime, however, Charlotte’s current qualifications in her apprenticeship are coming on leaps and bounds. “I’m most proud of the three units I’ve completed so far,” she shares, “but come back to me in six months and it’ll be five, or 10!”

For the full case study, please visit our site: www.prospect-training.org.uk/blog/casestudytwo

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High-level Apprenticeships:the Perfect Route for High Achievers

The wonderful thing about apprenticeships is how they cater for all strengths, yet a lingering perception that they are only a route into manual or skilled labour positions still remains. While this a great path for some, young people who have achieved well in school, but don’t find the idea of university appealing continue to be unaware of the array of promising options available to them.

Beth (20) had showed initiative already, completing her GCSE’s and A-Levels, before working part-time. This was until she started applying for apprenticeships in business administration. She had a few interviews via the National Apprenticeship scheme before being offered a position working for us directly. Like most young people, Beth was left unsure of where to move on to in life after education. “During my A-levels I realised that university was not for me, but wasn’t too sure what I wanted to do beside that. I wanted to continue to learn, and further my education, so eventually decided an apprenticeship was the best option for me. Working towards my apprenticeship has completely surpassed all of my expectations. I’ve gained new skills and developed existing ones.”

As an apprentice, Beth completely, and consistently impressed us with her hard work and commitment to the role. But her role is unique, in that she coordinates up-and-coming traineeships and apprentices of others too. “You see young people develop and grow after joining us,” Beth shares. “I feel I have grown up a lot, taking on responsibility and managing my own workload. My confidence has improved, and I have gained valuable skills which can be used in my working day, as well as my personal life.”

Having an apprentice will always be beneficial. Beth brings new ideas and fresh perspective to the table. She has thought up new ways of working, always with motivation and enthusiasm. Her role involves helping other young people achieve the goals she has succeeded in, and this ripple effect cannot be underestimated. “I am very proud of the person I have become. I didn’t think I would thrive so well in the workplace, or any good at working within a team, but PTS has really brought out the best in me and I am hoping there is much more to come as I grow and develop.”

“I hope in the future,” Beth continues, “that I will be working in a higher level position in a company where I can show off my skills and knowledge that I have gained while undertaking my apprenticeship and any other qualifications I achieve in the future.” It’s a sentiment we share, as we look forward to seeing Beth develop within PTS, but the great thing about apprenticeships is that they provide career paths for the long-term future. And for the company they are with, the industry they are working within, and the apprentice themselves, this is surely the biggest benefit of all.

For the full case study, please visit our site: www.prospect-training.org.uk/blog/casestudythree

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For further information, please contactEwen Saunders (Business Development Manager)

on 01452 886 888 or ewens@trainandrecruit.com

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