The phrase ‘growing your own’ is widely used in many walks of life. It isn’t simply the domain of those who run their own allotment, but applies equally to those who run their own business. If you are an employer hiring trained staff, the market has been tough for some while. This article doesn’t seek to explore why that is, although it might be an interesting enough subject of its own. No, I’m here to explore, and indeed promote, the benefits of ‘growing your own’.

Small businesses receive government backing in the form of funding

If you live long enough, life cycles turn every few decades and the apprenticeships that were available ‘when I was a lad’ have come back into fashion, suitably modernised, in recent years. Small businesses (those with less than 50 staff), who employ a young apprentice aged between 16 and 18, receive government backing in the form of full funding for their training costs of the apprentice. Employer National Insurance Contributions are waived for all apprentices under the age of 25.

The government has decided (hurrah!) that bigger businesses should help with this funding and last year introduced a levy of 0.5% on any company whose payroll bill exceeds £3 million a year. It was an ambitious plan, and one that wasn’t without its challenges, but without ambition, businesses would not flourish.

A fantastic, cost-effective opportunity

With the difficult recruitment market – will it be even more difficult in a year’s time when the UK is divorced from the EU? – the idea of bringing in and developing your own talent could be a fantastic opportunity for small businesses. Not only does it deliver a cost-effective option, it can mean you have a loyal and dedicated member of staff for several years to come.

Don’t be put off by the mechanics of finding an apprentice. You have to put him or her through appropriate training and the provider of that training will often be able to help you source candidates. Liaison with local schools and colleges can turn out to be highly valuable in giving you an early opportunity to find the best candidate.

I don’t speak from a theoretical point of view. We took on an apprentice in 2015 who has developed into a first-class member of the team. Buoyed by our success with that, we’ve done the same again this year and look forward to welcoming our latest apprentice when his exams and summer holidays are out of the way.