Ahead of National Apprenticeship Week 2025, the Business in Basingstoke team took a visit to a number of local businesses championing apprenticeships. We asked them about the value apprenticeships bring to their business and why they’ve chosen to invest.

The businesses we spoke to work across different industry sectors and show the variety of apprenticeships available locally. Some are just beginning their apprenticeship journey, while others are seasoned supporters.  Here’s a rundown of who we spoke to:

The Homemade Brownie Company, who make gluten-free chocolate brownies, have two apprentices supporting their baking operations.  JPH Electricals are an electrical contractor that work on domestic, commercial and light industrial jobs. Last year they took on their first apprentice.

Castle Trust Bank based on Basing View have been offering apprenticeships for a couple of years and The Salon, based in Sherfield-on-Loddon, told us that there have always been apprenticeships in the hairdressing industry and have been taking apprentices on since 2007.

Read on to find out what they told us or watch our video with parts of their interviews here.

What level of apprenticeships are there?

Apprenticeships are available across a range of levels, offering a pathway for individuals at various stages in their careers, so you can find the person most suitably skilled for you. Here's a general overview:  

Level 2: These are entry-level apprenticeships that typically require GCSEs or equivalent qualifications. They provide foundational skills and knowledge in a specific trade or profession. 

Level 3: Advanced apprenticeships are equivalent to A-levels and provide more in-depth skills and knowledge. They may require some prior experience or qualifications.  

Level 4-7: These higher-level apprenticeships are equivalent to higher education qualifications, such as foundation degrees, bachelor's degrees and master's degrees.

Businesses can offer apprenticeships at varying levels for example, Castle Trust Bank have been investing in apprenticeships for the last couple of years. Last year they brought three new hires into the business, one in IT and Technology (level 3), one in Customer Services (level 2) and one in Finance at level 7.

Why offer apprenticeships?

It’s clear that there are a number of reasons for businesses to take on apprentices and that it benefits them as a business.

1. It bridges skills gaps and helps train the future workforce.

Hannah from Castle Trust Bank told us “It gives us an opportunity to provide a platform for anybody that’s looking to get into financial services, the corporate world and an apprenticeship can help people to step up and get that support, not only from us as a business but from a provider that can talk them through the modules and any exams they might need to take.”

Dan added "where there might be skills gaps within this business, an apprenticeship is a real opportunity to invest in future talent and grow talent in the business.”

2. It helps them find staff that they can mould to the way they work.

Jim from JPH Electricals told us “We’ve taken people on in the past that didn’t have skills that we would have expected them to have known. We wanted new people and we want them to work how we work, so if we have an apprentice we can mould them.”

3. By offering apprenticeships, companies can reap significant long-term benefits, including a more skilled workforce, improved employee retention, and enhanced company image.  

Jane at The Salon tells us: “We started in 2007 with our first apprentice which we got directly from BCoT and she still works for us now.”

What support and training do you need to provide to your apprentices?

Apprenticeships provide a structured learning pathway, combining on-the-job training with formal education, to give apprentices valuable practical skills and knowledge. As an employer you would be expected to provide your apprentice/s with meaningful work experience, regular feedback and opportunities for professional development. This includes giving them sufficient time for off-the-job training, such as attending college courses or workshops, which is a crucial component of the apprenticeship program.

Wondering how this works in practice? Adam from Homemade Brownie Company told us:

“We support them in the business with on-the-job training and they are doing a real job as much as anyone else in the team, they are baking nine to five, Monday to Friday - so a full time job. As well as that, we get support from the National Association of Bakers. We have someone that comes out and visits them once or twice a month and takes them through various classroom or project work and teaches them some of the technical stuff around the baking industry and food in general. Then they have various assessments and coursework at the end that they have to pass to get their qualification.”

Some apprentices may also have day release to college.

“So they do one-day release to BCoT which is where they do their practicals and written work.” Jane at The Salon.

What advice would you give to other businesses considering offering apprenticeships?

We asked all the businesses we visited what advice they would give to other businesses considering apprenticeships. Jim from JPH Electricals summed it up nicely: “I think you have to decide what you can offer them and if you can teach them stuff. We went through some soul searching to make sure we would be able to offer what an apprentice needed. Look at the grants available and look at the support you can get from people like Intec, the council and see what’s out there. I think long-term it’s a good investment.”

Ultimately you are helping to train the workforce of the future by investing in them, which in turn could help to change their life and grow your business. It is clear that the benefits of taking on an apprentice are far-reaching and very much worth it for the businesses that have been involved in our campaign.

Our thanks to the Business in Basingstoke team and the businesses within the campaign that spoke to them. January 2025