It used to be that apprenticeships were looked down on – seen as the lesser option for people who couldn’t go to University. Thankfully, that has proven to be utter bull….you know what – as University fees climb upwards and that piece of paper has become pretty meaningless more and more school leavers are looking to apprenticeships as a way to get their foot on the career ladder without any debt. Even large companies like KPMG are now offering apprentice schemes, and the government is finally finally getting serious about apprenticeships. And about bloody time we say.

They hope to create three million apprenticeships by 2020, but they also hope to help change those attitudes. Whether or not you agree with his politics, Osborne and his crew seem keen to push those changing attitudes forwards – so that every man, woman and child in the UK is convinced of how great apprenticeships really are. And, to us at Fix Radio this is fantastic news. A good apprentice is enthusiastic, loyal and inexpensive – and yes we are aware that we have accidently also described the positive attributes of man’s best friend, but seriously folks who wouldn’t want a spare pair of hands? An inquisitive mind? And a way to give back to the community? And for those of you are eligible, you could well receive up to 100% funding for an apprentice. And according to some statistics, having an apprentice could boost your takings by up to £214 a week.

And there are many stories of apprentices who stay at their company for years – with many even rising up the ranks to join the management team. So clearly, something, somewhere is going right.

And for the apprentice – well they get an actual pay check (which to a 17 year old is a pretty big deal), work experience as well as a debt free education. They also get off and on the job training with a fantastic education in the classroom as well as the discipline of working a 9-5 job.

And, of course, for people within the construction sector this rise in apprentices couldn’t come at a better time, as there are simply not enough trained workers around. For some odd reason – we have no idea why – school leavers aren’t clamouring to become builders or bricklayers – and so we really need these apprentices to make sure we have enough trained employees. And you can mould your apprentice entirely in your own vision – with no bad habits – they can be trained up from scratch. What more could you want?

 Not only that, but for those of you looking to expand your business –investing in an apprentice in finance, admin or marketing could bring a fresh pair of eyes, some new energy and some much needed skills to your growing business. Happy days indeed.

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