Apprenticeships are steadily increasing in popularity. In fact, the number of people starting an apprenticeship in 2021/22 increased 43% year on year (gov.uk).
From an employee’s point of view, it’s easy to see why this form of on-the-job training is so appealing: you earn a salary; have an unrivalled opportunity to put what you’re learning into practice; and come out with a nationally recognised qualification – and, in the case of the CIMA Apprenticeship, Chartered Global Management Accountant status – all without paying a penny yourself.
But many would-be apprentices hit a stumbling block when it comes to getting their employer on board. And you can’t start an apprenticeship without your employer’s backing.
It should be easy – there’s a myriad of benefits for companies who support their staff through apprenticeships, after all. But, with misconceptions about apprenticeships rife, getting your boss on board isn’t always straightforward.
If your employer falls into that camp and you want to embark on an apprenticeship, you need the perfect pitch. So let’s bust a few myths, lay down the facts and pre-empt the tricky questions so you’ve got all you need to ask your employer to support you through an apprenticeship.
Apprenticeships: what your employer needs to know
Apprenticeships aren’t just for new hires
Apprenticeships are often associated with school leavers new to the world of work. But anyone over the age of 16 can do an apprenticeship. It’s a brilliant way to upskill staff, even if they’ve been in the position for a while.
There’s lots of funding available
Apprenticeships are well-funded, no matter how big or small the company. If you work for a big organisation, it’s likely that they’re already paying the apprenticeship levy — it’s 0.5% of an employer’s annual bill, if that bill is at least £3 million.
The levy means big employers are essentially paying into a big central pot that funds apprenticeships nationwide. By utilising the levy, the cost of learning to your employer is £0. That’s right: no extra cash is lost from the payroll.
And if you work for a small business? Those with a total annual pay bill of less than £3million pay just 5% of the cost of their apprenticeship training and the government pays the rest.
With the CIMA Apprenticeship, exam exemption fees are waived. So if your employer is willing to fund your CIMA Qualification anyway, they could save themselves some money by supporting you to qualify via the Apprenticeship route.
All of which leaves your employer with the potential to redirect money elsewhere. If they’ve got a training budget, for example, they can channel it into other ways to develop their staff.
Setting up an apprenticeship is straightforward
Some businesses are put off by the perceived amount of admin required to set up an apprenticeship program. And, while it’s not without a bit of bureaucracy, setting up an apprenticeship really isn’t time consuming or complicated.
Investment in apprenticeships is higher than ever before and thousands of companies have set up their own programs, so the road is well trodden. As you might expect, there are lots of resources available, not least from the National Apprenticeship Service, who provides face to face and telephone assistance. Your employer will also get support from the tuition provider and, with the CIMA Apprenticeship, a dedicated contact in our Apprenticeships team.
Off-the-job training doesn’t mean not working
It’s a rule of apprenticeships that 20% of the role must be off-the-job training – but that doesn’t mean the apprentice has to be offline not doing their job. Your employer just needs to show that the employee is learning for 20% of their time during their apprenticeship. So things like shadowing staff, giving the apprentice a stretch project, or being mentored by a more senior colleague all count towards that 20%.
Apprenticeships are a great way to build and retain talent
Forget ping pong tables and free pizza on Fridays: what better way to show your employees how much you care about them than by investing in their learning and their future? By supporting staff through an apprenticeship, they’re shaping an employee who is likely to stick with the company for years to come – and who will put all those skills and knowledge acquired from their apprenticeship straight back into the business.
3 resources to show your employer
- Direct your employer to these handy Apprenticeships Frequently Asked Questions.
- Find even more information about setting up a CIMA Apprenticeship here, along with testimonials from employers who’ve been there and done that.
- They can also fill in this form.
