benefits for you 1920x550 - Key Benefits

Key Benefits

At Shared Apprenticeships, we offer four key benefits to companies offering an industry placement for one of our apprentices in the construction industry and wider built environment.

Social impact

  • Qualitative outcomes – delivering across all 5 Themes of the Social Value Model and National TOMs Framework, all 7 KPIs of the Client Based Approach and 9 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. Read more here.
  • Not-for-profit Social Enterprise – supporting contractors by adding value to bids.
  • Economic impact – school activities; local employment for young people; creating careers in construction; committed to completions.
  • Wellbeing & Innovation – dedicated Mentor with Enhanced DBS, Prevent training, Safeguarding and Mental Health First Aid qualifications, also providing academic supervision.
  • Environmental impact – e.g., minimising carbon emissions. Read more here.
  • Helping to address inequality – Pre-Apprenticeship option; focus on ED&I and experience of recruiting and supporting females into the industry.

Potential future recruits

  • Committed to completions – aiming to see our apprentices to completion and CSCS upgrades, not to abandon at HNC
  • Onward progression – steering our apprentices into full-time employment and/or a higher/degree apprenticeship in the industry.
  • Widening participation – creating additional careers in construction, offering early-careers pathways, and employing a wide variety of apprentices.
  • No recruitment fees – our apprentices are free to apply to work directly for a contractor on completion of their apprenticeship at no extra cost.
  • Quality applicants –
    • We are well connected with schools and colleges across the region.
    • Our apprentices are qualified, trained, and highly experienced in the workplace.
    • Our apprentices have also benefited from, on average, two years of support from a dedicated Mentor as well as academic supervision.

Flexible options

  • CITB – as a shared apprenticeship service, we provide flexible contract periods where a contractor is unable to offer work for the full apprenticeship.
  • Flexi-Job Apprenticeship Agency – we are approved by the Department for Education to offer flexible contract durations to host companies.
  • Agile and adaptable – e.g., bespoke rates of apprentice pay and/or expenses.
  • Flexible start dates – we can usually arrange mid-year start dates with colleges and specialist training providers.
  • Paid Pre-Apprenticeships – paid placements for those requiring additional academic supervision and qualifications prior to starting an apprenticeship.
  • Accelerated Apprenticeships – enabling many of our apprentices to complete in less time than published in the Apprenticeship Standards.

Easy-to-use service

  • Transparent pricing – secure a Shared Apprentice and potential future employee for less than the rate for a labourer.
  • Recruitment* – advertising, shortlisting and interviewing local candidates (*we are the employer).
  • Onboarding – arranging health and safety training, CSCS cards (or equivalent), induction, and PPE.
  • College – experienced at sourcing training and funds for training costs, in using the DAS account, and negotiating flexible start dates.
  • HR management – handling all HR, insurance, timesheets, interventions and any flexible working arrangements.
  • Finance – handling National Insurance, pension and PAYE to enable sole traders to take on an apprentice.
  • Safeguarding, guidance and mental health – Dedicated Mentor and Designated Safeguarding Lead.
  • Academic supervision – we work with colleges and specialist providers across the region to support our apprentices through to completion and onward progression.
  • PR and Social Media – we manage four social media channels reaching key stakeholders across the region.
  • Careers activities – we help with mock interviews and careers fairs, raising aspirations and awareness of opportunities in the industry.
  • Quality service – e.g., named point of contact for all stakeholders.