“BECAUSE the business benefits speak for themselves, that’s why.

We have a number of motivated young people waiting in the wings who are focussed on developing a real career for themselves and you can tap into that pool of talent by speaking to Herefordshire College of Technology.

Improve your bottom line: Training apprentices can be more cost effective than hiring skilled staff, leading to lower training and recruitment costs; you develop them to the needs of your business, helping to improve productivity and driving your costs down.

Fill your skills gaps: Apprenticeships deliver skills designed around your business needs providing the skilled workers you need for the future. They also help you develop the specialist skills you need to keep pace with the latest technology and working practices in your sector.

Motivate your workforce: Apprentices tend to be eager, motivated, flexible and loyal to the company that invested in them. Remember, an apprentice is with you because they want to be – they have made an active choice to learn on the job and a commitment to a specific career.

Cost effective: Research proves that apprentices are cost effective way to grow your business. By training an apprentice you develop them to the needs of your business thereby maximising your return on investment Apprentices are generally motivated and appreciate the chance they have been given.

They are there to learn, and keen to impress.

Taking on an apprentice also by-passes the high costs of recruitment.

Your apprentices will also have class-room training that will bring new ideas and a new dimension to your organisation.

Apprentices and employers are carefully matched so that we can find the right apprentice for your workplace.

It's good PR: Taking on apprentices is generally seen by customers and clients as a good thing and will make them more likely to support you by using your services.

You are giving a young person a head start in their career, and access to valuable training and qualifications.

What more can we say?

à Visit apprenticeships.org.

uk/Employers/ROI-Tool.aspx and try the ROI calculator for yourself – you may be amazed at the results.

We offer and are developing apprenticeships in most sectors so contact us now 0800 032 1986 and press 3 for business development team or email apprenticeships@hct.ac.uk.