As we enter a new year, there is no better time to consider employing an IT apprentice in your school or business. And now’s the time to act as the government incentive scheme of £3000 per apprentice is only available if you employ someone by the end of January.

As the pandemic continues, IT will continue to play a central role in managing remote working and supporting isolating school pupils. An IT apprentice could play a vital supporting role in implementing this successfully – making sure you are maximising the effective use of technology and helping you focus on dealing with your customers or spending more time in the classroom.

BENEFITS FOR BUSINESSES

Although half of all office-based workers had never worked from home before COVID-19, three-quarters want regular remote working patterns in future – having the right IT and support is crucial to making this possible.

Josh Bevis, from Sonar IT, who started his career as an apprentice and now employs them, said:
“We always knew we’d utilise apprentices. Why wouldn’t you? They are cost effective and you have the chance to mould them into the member of staff that you want them to be. It would be weird to be an IT company without apprentices.”

BENEFITS FOR SCHOOLS

Used well, technology in schools can make lessons more engaging, supports pupils who prefer different learning styles, is incredibly important for dyslexic students, and can help to reduce the impact for pupils having to self-isolate.  A digital apprentice can work with teachers and other staff to implement new systems or get the best out of existing technology.

Many of the schools that we work with have seen the benefits that an IT apprentice can bring to a learning environment. Michelle Catterson, Executive Head at Moon Hall School said: “Yes, we could have teachers that could do these things, but they’re quite busy with their other roles and teaching the kids and looking after the kids. So having this dedicated member of staff that can lead on these initiatives and has the time to pull it all together has been amazing for us.”

An apprentice makes fantastic financial sense too.  Patrick Taggert, Director of Operations at the Romero Multi Academy Company adds: “Working with Primary Goal and introducing this new model of having internal ICT expertise has reduced our costs by £80,000. That’s a fantastic bonus to this initiative as well, because that £80,000 can be reinvested in the schools, which at the moment is more important than ever”

WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO MOVE QUICKLY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE GOVERNMENT CASH SUPPORT.