SME’s locked out of apprenticeships according to The HEX Group
This National Apprenticeship Week, The HEX Group is calling on the government to focus its efforts on enabling businesses of all sizes to unlock the known potential of apprenticeships. For more than 15 years, apprenticeships have been a vital part of The HEX Group, fostering young talent, bridging the skills gap and future-proofing the workforce.
In October 2024, the government announced a new ‘growth and skills levy’ to replace the existing apprenticeship levy and provide funding for new foundation apprenticeships, allowing younger people a route into critical sectors like manufacturing. This reform was made to boost national interest in apprenticeships and address the nationwide skills gaps.
But while the promise of extra funding is a positive, it doesn’t go far enough to remove the barriers that prevent thousands of businesses from introducing an apprenticeship programme.
Businesses, especially SME’s, are often still reluctant to take the plunge in welcoming apprentices to the workforce, often citing blockers like significant time and cost investment. With a requirement for businesses to facilitate at least six hours a week of off-the-job training to apprentices, the pressures placed on resources can be vast. And that’s before even considering mentorship and pastoral support, which is key in a successful apprenticeship scheme.
With over 200 apprentices trained in welding, graphics and signage, business administration and engineering, they are a crucial part of The HEX Group. Welcoming around 20 new apprentices every year, The HEX Group sees firsthand the immense benefits of apprenticeships, but also recognises the time-consuming challenges with getting a scheme off the ground.
Karen Barnacle, Group People & Culture Director, comments: “As a business, we have always heavily supported hosting apprenticeships over the years. And now, 15 years down the line, we continue to recognise the challenges businesses face, as many remain as significant now as when we began.
In 2024, The HEX Group launched its Managed Apprenticeship Scheme, the first of its kind. This initiative empowers companies, helping them realise the potential of apprenticeships while removing the obstacles of resources and administration.
Karen continues, “Our Managed Apprenticeship Scheme is designed to support businesses in overcoming these hurdles, ensuring all businesses, big or small, reap the benefits of apprenticeships.”
Robust UK, a manufacturer of steel door solutions, is one of many companies that trusts The HEX Group to manage their apprentices. Alison Scarsbrook, Robust UK’s HR manager, comments on the successful partnership: “Having had a long relationship with The HEX Group, we saw the success of their apprenticeship scheme; in 2021, we approached them to manage our apprentices. With an incredible facility on our doorstep and a tried and tested programme, sending our apprentices there made perfect sense. With our first cohort coming to the end of their three-year course, we could not be more impressed with how the scheme has run.”
Throughout National Apprenticeship Week, starting on Monday, 10 March, The HEX Group is visiting a host of Staffordshire schools and colleges to inform local students about the endless possibilities of apprenticeships. These sessions will allow prospective apprentices to learn more about available opportunities, the application process and the benefits of joining businesses as an apprentice.
Celebrating 15 years of nurturing talent and navigating challenges, The HEX Group urge the government to overcome the challenges of apprenticeship programmes to encourage businesses to invest in their future workforce.
To learn more about The HEX Group’s Managed Apprenticeship Scheme and how it can support your business, visit thehexgroupacademy.co.uk.
