SOUTH YORKSHIRE APPRENTICESHIP HUB

South Yorkshire Apprenticeship Hub

A new Apprenticeship Hub announced by South Yorkshire’s Mayor, Oliver Coppard, has now launched.

The hub, which aims to create better quality and a higher number of apprenticeships start-ups in the region, has now launched and acts as a one-stop shop for businesses, apprentices, and anyone hoping to start an apprenticeship by providing a range of services:

Information, advice and guidance services to apprentices, parents, and employers
Help for businesses (SMEs in particular) to access technical talent across the region to tackle skills shortages
Progression pathways and opportunities into and out of high-quality Level 2 and 3 apprenticeships
Helping support the development of a public sector approach to apprenticeships, including flexi-job apprenticeships.

The Apprenticeship Hub has an initial target to deliver at least 300 new apprenticeships in the region by 2025 as part of a two-year pilot scheme.

Find out more about the South Yorkshire Apprenticeship Hub by clicking this link

Find out more about the Apprenticeship Levy Matchmaking Service by clicking this link

South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority’s Strategy Economic Plan has a vision that South Yorkshire will recover and grow an economy that works for everyone. This includes, in terms of skills, developing 30,000 more people with higher-level skills and 9,000 fewer people with low or no skills.

How many apprentices are there in South Yorkshire?

In South Yorkshire over the past few years up to 15,000 people have kickstarted their career – or taken it in a different direction – by starting an apprenticeship. We know that more apprentices are taken on by small businesses, who employ 82.2% of the total. Medium businesses employ 12.3%, and large businesses employ just 5.5% of apprentices.

In our region we have some fantastic case studies of people of all ages who are achieving success or enhancing their careers through apprenticeships. You can see their stories below.

What are the benefits of apprenticeships?

Government evidence shows that many apprentices are kept on by their employers when they’ve completed their course and nearly a quarter of apprentices are promoted within 12 months of finishing.

Government research also shows that apprentices have increased future earning potential across the course of their career, earning around £117,000 more during their lifetime.

According to the National Apprenticeship Service, around 96% of employers surveyed had experienced benefits from employing an apprentice. 74% said apprentices had improved their product, 78% of employers said they had improved productivity, 85% said apprentices had helped to develop skills, and 73% said it had boosted staff morale.

86% of employers said apprenticeships helped them develop skills relevant to their organisation, according to the National Apprenticeships Service. 78% said apprenticeships improved productivity. Apprenticeships contribute towards increasing employee satisfaction, reducing staff turnover and reducing recruitment costs. Training your employees and growing your own talent is the most effective way to retain great people.

How we’re supporting apprenticeships

In our Renewal Action Plan (PDF, 10Mb), as part of our objective to help people find jobs and adapt to the new economy, we have committed to creating 3,000 apprenticeships and other training positions. We want all residents who want and need education, training or an apprenticeship to have an opportunity to do so and to be supported into sustainable employment.