apprenticeships
Apprenticeships Are Not Plan B
They Are the Future of Our Industry
Bringing Employers and Education Together
Yesterday, we had both the pleasure and a strong sense of duty, which we embrace as Apprenticeship Ambassadors within the AAN (Apprenticeship Ambassadors Network), to take part in a meeting organised by Pathway and AAN. The event brought together local employers and representatives from various schools across the region.
The meeting, held as an afternoon tea discussion at the Mercure Hotel in Northampton, took place in a warm yet highly constructive atmosphere. Several tables were set up with school representatives, and employers – including those representing SAGL Simon Acres – joined the discussions. The event was also attended by representatives from Weetabix and sponsored by Barclays, further highlighting the growing level of engagement from major organisations.
Why Apprenticeships Matter More Than Ever
As you know, the topic of apprenticeships is particularly close to our hearts. We believe in doing what we say we will do, and events like this provide an excellent opportunity to help pave the way for young people to combine education with practical work experience.
In our view, this type of career start is not only one of the best options for many, but also a great way to gain real exposure to professional life, even for those who are not yet certain about their future career path.
Construction Industry Leaders Setting the Standard
At yesterday’s meeting, two major regional companies—KIER and DOOCEY—also presented their apprenticeship programmes dedicated to the construction industry. We listened with great interest to the opportunities they are creating for future apprentices.
It is encouraging to see companies in our region that genuinely believe in and actively promote apprenticeships, recognising them as a solution to future economic challenges. Their examples clearly show not only that young people are willing to pursue this path, but also that there are outstanding employers whose practices we can all learn from.
Our experience within the AAN is now measured not only in months but in years, and yesterday Simon Acres certainly made a valuable contribution to the discussion on the importance of promoting apprenticeship programmes alongside, or even over, the traditional university pathway.
Building People, Not Just Businesses
We ourselves have trained several young apprentices and supported the development of more than one employee who now runs their own business. We consider this a genuine source of pride.
Not every employee will stay with us forever, but seeing them succeed in their professional lives allows us to say: we helped start that journey—we were the ones under whose banner they first set sail.
The Challenge: Not Enough Opportunities
Unfortunately, based on conversations we had with teachers yesterday, there are still not enough of us. Many students struggle not only to find the right support at the start of their work-and-study journey, but also face some scepticism about their readiness to take on responsibilities.
There remains a belief that young people are not capable of a serious approach to work and require a level of supervision that smaller businesses simply cannot afford.
Another key challenge raised was the strong influence parents have on career decisions. Too often, university is still seen as the default or “safer” route, while apprenticeships are overlooked. There is a clear need for better education and awareness among parents, helping them understand that apprenticeships can offer equally valuable, if not superior, career outcomes.
The Reality: It Can Work
However, as we demonstrate through our project “The Journey of an Apprentice”, in collaboration with Adroid Services, there is light at the end of the tunnel.
It is possible to trust young people and develop talent within your company’s culture, building a future workforce that will deliver long-term value.
Even if we cannot trust every candidate, it is still worthwhile to find programmes tailored to your business’s needs. You may even discover potential candidates within your existing network, increasing the chances of long-term success and reducing the risk of a mismatch.
Importantly, one of the commonly perceived barriers—minimum wage requirements without prior experience—can be addressed through stronger collaboration with schools. By increasing access to meaningful work experience placements, young people can enter the workforce better prepared, giving employers greater confidence in their hiring decisions.
Changing Mindsets in Education
Yesterday’s meeting also showed us that, contrary to the common belief that teachers tend to favour university education over apprenticeships, we had the opportunity to meet dozens of educators with a completely different mindset.
It is truly encouraging to see such change.
The Numbers Speak for Themselves
Recent data shows that over 90% of apprentices remain in employment or continue training after completing their programme, and a large proportion stay with their employer long-term.
At the same time, the UK construction sector continues to face a significant skills shortage, with tens of thousands of new workers needed each year to meet demand.
A Call to Action for Business Owners
We are sharing this with you today to encourage you—business owners in the building and construction industry—to occasionally step away from your day-to-day operations and attend events like this.
They can help you see the real value of investing in future specialists, not only young people entering the workforce but also individuals ready to change their career paths.
The benefits for your business can be invaluable. Ignoring this potential may lead to workforce shortages and an inability to fulfil contracts due to a lack of skilled labour.
It is far better to invest some of your energy now in developing future talent. We firmly believe that their loyalty could one day save more than one business.
