The Cornwall Apprenticeship Agency (CAA) is calling on employers in Cornwall to take on an apprentice in 2015 as it celebrates creating 650 apprenticeships within two years.
The appeal follows recent research from the National Audit Office which estimates that the economy gains £18 for every £1 of public funding towards apprenticeships.
With the Government offering tax cuts to employers hiring young apprentices, the organisation is calling for more businesses in the region to get involved.
Stephen Roberts from the CAA, said: “More employers, who may not have previously considered taking on an apprentice, are beginning to realise that the skills and financial benefits of an apprentice speak for themselves. We would encourage any employer contemplating taking on an apprentice to get in touch to see how we can support them.”
Mandy Stinchcombe, commercial director at St Ives-based letting agency Aspects Holidays, said that a recent apprentice taken on through the CAA has proved to be a great experience for both parties.
She explained: “Due to the recent growth in the company we knew we had to recruit, but we didn’t want to go down the traditional recruitment process.
“An apprenticeship scheme really appealed to us as a business. The CAA scheme offers specific and structured training and a genuine plan of professional development, which is excellent. We also felt that it was a chance to offer a young person the opportunity to gain that vital experience and training that they are often asked for when applying for jobs.”
