Rathbone can provide your business with motivated young people. They’re already part-qualified with the right sorts of qualifications for the workplace; they’ve demonstrated real commitment and a willingness to learn.

Rathbone offers advice and guidance to the young people we work with so they’re fully supported and ready to contribute to your business.

Our programmes mean that young people are ready to work – from training and work placements they understand the world of work and how to get on. They have work based skills like communications, numeracy and ICT. The content of the Apprenticeship is designed around your business needs by industry specialists who understand what you do.

How does the training work?

Rathbone’s step-by-step process looks like this:

1. We work with you to identify the exact areas of your business and which employees will benefit most from training.
2. We discuss where apprentices, work placements or Train to Gain will be beneficial.
3. Next we introduce the apprentice to you, or talk to your existing employees to explain the process. We explain the training programme and how we will help them improve.
4. Then we deliver planned training with regular updates on progress.

What are the elements of an Apprenticeship?

All apprentices work towards a nationally recognised work based qualification, usually a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) at Level 2 or Level 3. This proves someone can do a particular job. A Technical Certificate rewards the knowledge needed to do a role. Apprentices develop key work based skills like numeracy, communications and ICT.

How long does an Apprenticeship last?

Apprenticeships rely on someone showing that they can do a job to national standards so it depends on how fast someone learns and the knowledge / skills needed to do a particular job. We’ll agree a target completion date with every apprentice at induction.

How is an Apprenticeship different to a college course? I can’t afford my employees to be off at college.

That’s what most employers tell us, so we aim to deliver training in the workplace. Our programme is practical and work based so most learning takes place in the workplace. And it takes place when you’re able to release your staff. We use teaching methods and materials that can be followed independently by employees. There’s the need to be some time ‘off the job’ but we’re confident that any time employees spend will be more than compensated by their increased performance and commitment.

I’d love to take on an apprentice but I can’t afford it – and there’s all that paperwork.

It’s not expensive and it doesn’t require lots of paperwork. The government pays the cost of training and Rathbone takes care of paperwork for you. Apprentices are exempt from the National Minimum Wage so wages are affordable.

I don’t have time for recruitment.

Rathbone has a pool of young people so we can take care of recruitment, if you like. Rathbone ensures those young people are work ready and can make the right contribution to your business.

If you’re unsure about making a commitment, we can provide an apprentice on placement for an initial trial period at no cost to you. Our experience shows that employers who start this way are soon keen to employ the apprentice as they see the difference made to their business.

What if the apprentice doesn’t ‘fit’ or we run out of work for them?

Rathbone is here to help. You select the apprentice - with our support - to meet your business’s particular needs. During the initial placement stage, you and the apprentice get to know each other. If there are any issues, we’re on hand to help resolve them. If work is ‘slow’, we can help by accelerating the training element of the apprenticeship until work picks up again. All we ask is once you agree to train an apprentice that you commit, with our support, to help the apprentice achieve their apprenticeship.

What training can Rathbone offer my business?

There’s more information on each Apprenticeship by clicking the links here:

• Business Administration
• Children and young People's Workforce
• Customer Service
• Health and Social Care
• Hospitality and Catering
• Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
• Retail
• Retail Motor Industry
• Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools
• Warehouse and Storage
• Youth Work
• Team Leading
• Fundraising
• Managing Volunteers

Your business working in the community.

We want to work with businesses to develop positive choices for young people. Offering young people apprenticeships and meaningful work placements with a range of businesses and organisations is a cornerstone to Rathbone’s work.

Getting involved with Rathbone can be an added benefit to your business – your business doesn’t operate in isolation, you’re part of your local community. Working with the local community brings a wide range of benefits.

For many businesses, local customers are an important source of sales. Your reputation as someone working in the community can be an important consideration to new or existing employees. Employees may stay longer, reducing the costs and disruption of recruitment. Working in your community can improve the environment around you. And a partnership with Rathbone can generate positive publicity for your company.