AS THE country continues to groan its way out of recession, apprenticeships may not at first glance be seen by some small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as much more than an extra, unnecessary expenditure.

However, Tiverton auto repair firm D&K Vehicle Repairs is among those who recognise the benefits an apprentice can bring to their business. And having taken one on, they have received funding through a National Apprentice Service (NAS) incentive scheme designed to help participating SMEs cover costs.

They have done so in partnership with Exeter College, the body providing the educational training to the apprentice with a view to them gaining formal Automotive industry qualifications.

The deal is simple: the apprentice attends their College course on day release once a week to hone their skills through studying in their chosen field; the rest of the week, they apply their knowledge practically while working for the employer who has agreed to take them on.

Having received an initial installment of £1500, which the company says it plans to use on buying workwear and other essentials for its latest recruit – 16-year-old apprentice Dean Allan, of Tiverton – it will receive a follow-up payment of £1000 in 12 months’ time.

As the country’s new FE minister, John Hayes, pledged in the Times Educational Supplement on Friday (June 4) provision of the largest number of apprenticeship places in history, Kim Davey, co-owner of D&K Vehicle Repairs, was collecting her first support grant. She is confident that once initial outlays have been accounted for, the payback is worth it.

She says: “Taking on an apprentice means you can train them in the way that you would like them to work for you, rather than in a way that they have been used to working previously. At the same time, it is nice to think that you are taking someone on who is not yet fully-qualified, and you are giving them a chance.”

But, she says, it’s not only the employer and apprentice who may benefit; the rest of the workforce is likely to too.

Kim explains: “The guys that Dean is now working with are mostly in their 20s. It is not that long since they took and passed their exams, so it’s nice for them to now be able to share some of their expertise and experience gained since then with a new colleague.

“At the same time, bringing new blood into a business often breathes new life into it, and we hope Dean will be able to bring in new ideas of his own and maybe even some additional skills which he has picked up at College.”

“The extra funding is a bonus,” she adds. “All the guys here wear uniforms, so Dean will need one of those. And we want to make sure he has money to help him go to College, for example, to pay travel costs or for any books he might need.

“As a small business, we already work hard for our money, so any boost to our finances which will ensure we can support Dean in his studies can only be a good thing.”

Visiting the garage on Howden Industrial Estate on Friday to hand over the first of two cheques was Exeter College Employer Engagement Manager Richard Layburn.

Particularly for SMEs, where profit margins and workforces are smaller and therefore more dependent on individuals, he says, such financial support is often difference between whether or not they can afford to take on an apprentice during these difficult times.

Richard, who has previously spoken to members of Exeter Chamber of Commerce and Industry about the benefits of apprenticeships, continues: “For years, there was a national incentive scheme to encourage SMEs who would not otherwise have been able to afford to take on apprentices to do so. A new scheme began on June 1 which we hope will again encourage them to consider the rewards to be gained from employing an apprentice, particularly in this economic climate.”

“The success rates speak for themselves,” he adds. “A retail apprentice undertaking a 24-month apprenticeship, for example, is likely to reach the same level of competence after six months as someone who may have been working for a company for years; for engineering, the average timescale is 18 months.

“In this time, through their formal education at College, they may also bring an understanding of new technology and new skill sets to a business. The employer also finds them in a position where they can tap into College resources. If the apprentice wins awards, this in turn brings extra recognition to the employer. What’s more, the majority will stay with their employers once their apprenticeship is complete.”

Exeter College currently offers 39 types of apprenticeship, the largest range in Devon and Cornwall, across the following sectors: Automotive and Engineering, Business and IT, Construction, Hairdressing, Health, Social Care and Childcare, Hospitality and Catering, and Technical Theatre.