Did you know over 2.5 million people go to university? Whilst only roughly 750,000 are enrolled onto apprenticeships. Many aren’t given the chance; many don’t get the grades, and many don’t get the support they really need. There is a bit of controversy surrounding hiring apprentices such as the cost, time, and pressure on school leavers. According to research, this has shown due to the understanding that apprenticeships have fallen in recent years, 2.1% just in the last year, and only 29% of all apprenticeships are ages between 19 and 24. However, Faun Zoeller (FZUK) looks past this and encourages young people to immerse themselves in the business and help drive it forward.

FZUK currently hold some apprentices of their own. They believe they can help them grow by giving them day-to-day tasks they would be participating in if they were fully qualified, including allowing them to self-develop while in a role, working and learning at the same time. This gives them confidence and belief letting them relish fully. Upon completing the apprenticeship, they will have the skills required and independence needed to succeed in the business.

FZUK recruit Luke Fisher was enrolled onto a PR and media apprenticeship in February 2024 through FZUK and couldn’t be more delighted. He commented, “I am thrilled to be the PR apprentice here at FZUK, I have seen that they believe in giving people like me the chance to develop and build myself due to the incredible opportunities I have been given since day one. This apprenticeship is great for me as it allows me to learn whilst gaining the skills required in the workplace. University was never an option for me and I’m extremely grateful that FZUK have given me this chance when no one else would. This opportunity has been a great platform for me to establish myself for my career, I have already learned so much both personally and professionally and can’t wait to see what the future has in store!”

Hiring an apprentice is a productive and effective way to grow talent and develop a motivated, skilled, and qualified workforce according to most organisations, as research has concluded that 86% of employers said apprenticeships helped them develop skills relevant to their organisation. 78% of employers said apprenticeships helped them improve productivity and 74% of employers said apprenticeships helped them improve the quality of their product or service. CEO Simon Hyde, founder of FZUK and the Power Up Mentoring Foundation, was an apprentice himself and has worked his way up the ladder proving that the sky is the limit for apprentices. Here is what he had to say about the impact of apprentices on FZUK and businesses in general. “I think the impact is hugely positive, the business always considers medium to long-term plans. We must invest in the younger generation on a bigger and wider scale across all areas of the workforce. I think the new generation is better equipped to bring new ideas through technology, AI and social media in how we can manage growth in a changing world. From a personal perspective, having been an apprentice myself, I can see huge benefits in giving both individuals and the company a balance of academic qualifications and experience at work, which gives a rich blend of growth for both parties.”

With the current circumstances we as a country find ourselves in with the national cost of living constantly increasing, making the costs of recruiting higher we must support and invest in apprenticeship roles as they can appertain future proofing and bring a new generation of talent to your business. On the other hand, you can allow someone the chance to grow and develop within your organisation. They will in return learn under the company values effectively being completely embedded into your organisation. In result, this gives apprentices the chance to demonstrate their skills whilst building their confidence in this role, making them feel valued. Not only will they just develop through your organisation but also through their training provider, which is free for the apprentice. This is essential in supporting your business and the continuous growth of the apprentice. Furthermore, at FZUK they show character and commitment to take on these young apprentices and that is what they will continue to do to set them apart from others by demonstrating their vision.