Apprentice secondment service launched by ECA the leading engineering services trade association, extends the ‘loan labour scheme’, allowing employers to loan out and hire apprentices on a temporary basis.
The ability to loan out apprentices for businesses usually happens for two reasons. The lender has a temporary workload shortfall, or they have limits to the variety of work they can undertake.
In both cases, it can be difficult for the lender’s apprentice to fulfil the apprenticeship curriculum in time. The borrowing business can fill the gap whilst allowing the apprentice to continue to work and learn. Ensuring clear learning objectives and early involvement of the training provider is crucial.
ECA Director of Employment and Skills Andrew Eldred commented on the Apprentice support service:
“In these challenging times, some engineering services businesses are facing periods of time when they may struggle to find work for all their apprentices. Other firms are still busy, and are ready and able to help.
“Given the critical importance of apprentices to the future of the industry, our new apprentice support service will help ensure that temporary opportunities can be found to keep them learning and in employment.”
Research from The Electrotechnical Skills Partnership in 2018/19 found that apprentices deliver a net return to their employer of up to £57,000 within four years of joining the business.
ECA has also produced guidance and flowcharts for businesses on how to keep apprentices employed and travelling and working safely during the current climate, with more tools and support to follow in the near future.
The apprentice support service forms part of ECA’s broader ‘loan labour scheme’, which gives businesses flexibility to bring in high-quality staff without resorting to agencies.
To find out more about ECA’s apprentice secondment service, please click here.
To read more about Apprenticeships, take a look at our Training section.
