Fergus releases guide on how get the most out of apprentices

As National Apprenticeship Week (6 to 12 February) approaches, Fergus is offering some sage advice for taking on and nurturing an apprentice. The free guide, available online, helps busy tradespeople learn how to find, train, and get apprentices adding value to a trades business quickly.

“Apprentices get a bit of a bad rap, but they can be an invaluable resource for your company, provided you know how to find and get the most out of them,” says Dan Pollard, founder of Fergus. “There is a skills shortage and apprenticeships are a way to futureproof your business and our industry. However, it’s hard work, so our guide looks at the pros and cons of taking an apprentice on, what you need to do beforehand, the hiring process, what to look for and how to interview candidates. It also looks at the grants and incentives available to trade businesses.”

Ask any tradesperson and they will tell you the first year of having apprentices around feels a bit like having a toddler in the workplace. They’re green and need a lot of training to understand the lay of the land. The guide looks at four secrets to success with apprentices to help business and the apprentice, including getting them up to speed quickly, maximising their efficiency, supervision and engagement.

Dan continues, “Hiring an apprentice can be the most rewarding experience and be key to futureproofing your company, but you will need to manage them effectively and you will need to figure out the best course of action for each individual. You will also need to check your expectations – they aren’t fully trained tradespeople and can’t be expected to perform at that level.”