Chamber President believes ‘Apprenticeships are good for business’

Suffolk joined with the rest of the UK recently to mark National Apprenticeship Week, which was designed to raise the importance and profile of apprenticeships across the country.

The British Chambers of Commerce published a report “Business is Good for Apprenticeships” showcasing case studies of apprentices and employers.

“There has been an increase in the number of apprenticeships created,” said the Suffolk Chamber President Dr Peter Funnell. “But more needs to be done to overcome the associated bureaucracy and create incentives for smaller businesses.”

“Apprenticeships are good for business and good for individuals. They are an important way of improving the UK’s skills base, and giving young people opportunities beyond the classroom, particularly in the face of record youth unemployment,” Dr Funnell added. “But for firms too they bring benefits, providing them with the skills they need to grow and build a successful business.”

The research from the British Chambers of Commerce showed that many of those firms (82%) who took on an apprentice did so to increase their skills capacity.

React Computer Partnership based at Woodbridge took on a Business and Administration apprentice Luke Mason in November last year. They have been delighted with his progress to date and feel it will undoubtedly lead to a full-time position for him.

Francis Pledger, Director at React said “We interviewed three potential candidates and found the quality to be very high. In fact any of the three would have been able to fulfil the role, but we felt Luke’s character meant he would fit into our team better than the other candidates.”

The importance of apprenticeships has also been backed by Detlef Liebscher, Managing Director of Morrison Freight who move in excess of 250 trailers to and from mainland Europe every week. “Apprenticeships provide real value for money and our company will embark upon a programme which will see new apprentices join the Morrison Freight team annually,” he said.

“People are at the heart of every thriving company. Businesses are in fact the single largest investor in training in the UK. Developing the capability of our workforce is crucial for individual companies as well as the UK's economic competitiveness. Apprenticeships are good for business, and good for Britain. They provide individuals with the first step on a career and businesses with future employees and growth, in turn bolstering the economy,” said Dr Peter Funnell from the Chamber of Commerce.