Despite general scepticism about the usefulness of apprenticeship schemes, the British Printing Industries Federation, or BPIF, has found that apprenticeships within the print industry do work. Around 90% of 16-18 year old apprentices surveyed said they would recommend an apprenticeship to a friend. This is backed up by employers, with 96% reporting benefits to their business from taking on an apprentice. Such schemes help to bring fresh talent into the industry, helping to plug a gap that printers have long recognised as a problem.
Attention has been focussed nationally on the issue of apprenticeships this week, which is National Apprenticeship Week. For this reason, the BPIF surveyed its 16-18 year old apprentices to discover how they found the process of applying for an apprenticeship. Unsurprisingly, the BPIF found that print apprenticeships are not widely promoted in schools and colleges, with only 6% of those surveyed reporting that printing was encouraged as a career. Only 21% cited their school or college as giving support, though 46% had accessed the National Apprenticeship website and 83% knew someone who had done or was completing an apprenticeship.
BPIF apprentices stated that they ‘learnt additional skills’ and that ‘working as well as earning a qualification was the best thing to do in the economic climate’. They felt they achieved ‘valuable work experience’ by ‘being paid to learn’ and that an apprenticeship was the ‘best way to get a career’ as they could gain ‘experience and education at once which is what employers look for’.
Anyone interested can find further details on BPIF Training on 01676 526 046.
Printers positive on apprenticeships
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