As National Apprenticeship Week begins [week commencing 8 February], a survey from IronmongeryDirect has found that a third of companies and tradespeople (31%), who regularly hire apprentices, feel that the program has been made harder due to the coronavirus pandemic, with figures from the Office for National Statistics showing a 30% drop in new construction apprentices between August and October 2020, compared to the same period the previous year.
Demonstrating the effect of the pandemic on the scheme, more than one in five (22%) companies that usually hire apprentices took on fewer in 2020, despite a fifth (19%) of tradespeople believing that the program is more important now than ever.
The IronmongeryDirect study revealed that one in 12 tradespeople (8%) believe that the government has not done enough to support apprentices throughout the pandemic. Looking at the year ahead, the positive news is that a quarter (23%) of businesses and tradespeople plan to bring on apprentices in 2021.
Building surveyors (34%) and electricians (28%) are the most likely trades to be looking for apprentices this year, while painter/decorators and landscapers are least likely (15% and 5%, respectively).
Commenting on the research, Marco Verdonkschot, managing director at IronmongeryDirect, said: “It’s great to see that many tradespeople and companies are still looking to make use of the apprenticeship program, despite the difficulty of the past year.
“We think the apprenticeship scheme is an amazing way to help shape the next generation of tradespeople. That’s why we’ve launched a competition for a UK-based tradesperson or company to win £5,000 towards funding an apprentice.”
“There are so many people who do amazing work in the industry today who started out as apprentices, so it’s important that the program continues to be well-funded. More needs to be done to support apprentices throughout this pandemic to ensure that we continue to have great talent in the future, and we wanted to do our bit to help!”
Industry celebrates apprentices
Elsewhere in the industry, to celebrate National Apprenticeship Week, the Builders Merchants Federation (BMF) has been sharing what its member’s apprentices’ have to say about their experiences working for the companies they work for. Meanwhile, Midland Led has given a shout out on social media promoting all roofing apprentices and their tutors.
Furthermore, the BMF shared a video on social media from Bradfords Building Supplies, featuring trainees from the firm explaining their experiences from the company’s trainee scheme and how they enjoy working in the industry.
To enter the IronmongeryDirect competition or to learn more about the research the company carried out, visit: https://www.ironmongerydirect.co.uk/blog/apprenticeships-and-covid-19-looking-ahead-to-2021.
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