Investing in the future of your business with training
Paul Gray of specialist industry training provider MRG Services UK explains why investment in your people is the answer to strengthening your business and preparing it for the future – and why it could cost a lot less
than you think.
Setting aside the Covid-19 crisis for a moment, our industry still has a number of key challenges it needs to address. One of the biggest of these is our ageing workforce and the struggle we have attracting younger workers into the profession. For me, the answer to both these problems is investment in developing your people through workplace training and apprenticeships. To show you why this is so important, let’s take a look at some of the headline statistics. Research from Investors in People shows that organisations that lead, support and develop their workforce effectively are 17% more productive and 21% more profitable. It’s hard to argue with these figures and who would say no to increasing profits by a fifth?
The facts around apprentices are equally as interesting. Apprentices can be existing members of staff of any age already on your payroll that need to be upskilled as well as a new member of the team. And a typical apprentice delivers productivity gains of over £10,000 a year – and you can almost double that figure in our sector.
Similar research confirms that 69% of employers say that employing apprentices has improved staff retention and 65% of apprentices stay working for the company that trained them when they complete their apprenticeship. Furthermore, 86% of employers said that apprentices helped to develop relevant skills for the organisation, and to fill their skills gap. Apprenticeships are good for your wider reputation too – 67% of employers say that employing apprentices improved their image in their sector and five million consumers are more likely to make a purchase from a business that has apprentices because they recognise how they contribute to society.
Here at MRG, we know the benefits of training better than most. We are a specialist industry training provider working with businesses throughout the UK and Eire and offering a wide range of qualifications. Our management and delivery teams have over 20 years’ experience in training and development in the fenestration industry.
We’re also well-placed to tell you that training your workforce could cost a lot less than you think. We are on the government’s register of apprenticeship training providers (RoATP). It means we’re able to access government funding for most learners. For example, if you are an SME that doesn’t pay into the Apprenticeship Levy system then the government will fund 95% of the costs of training. The difference that funding makes is remarkable. A Level 2 Apprenticeship for an existing member of staff or a new member, could cost you as little as £175.
Each of our programmes provides high-quality, flexible and blended learning so we can operate safely in the current landscape. Furthermore, participants benefit from comprehensive support resources, exclusive E-portfolio programmes and additional personal development. Training presents a prime opportunity for the industry and the value of training is evident in the programme we recently completed for Evander, the UK’s leading provider of responsive, pre-planned and emergency home services. We recently put 65 apprentices at Evander, through their Level 2 and 3 programmes in Fenestration Installation, Glazing, and Fenestration Surveying.
Feedback from everyone was positive. Matt Smith, HR Director at Evander, said: “We would like to thank MRG for all for the hard work and commitment they have shown throughout to get our employees through to completion in these challenging times.” One learner, Stephen Woodcock, said: “I am proud of what I have achieved, I found the MRG tutor / assessor very supportive, knowledgeable and easy to get on with. I would certainly like to carry on with my learning with MRG as I have enjoyed the experience.”
In fact, our programme was such a success we are in discussions to deliver a bespoke ILM Management programme to key managers throughout their business too. All the signs are Covid-19 is going to make business tough over the next few years. Add in the structural problems we’ve known about for some time and you create a perfect storm. It means there’s never been a better time to invest in the future of your business by investing in you biggest asset – your people. Contact us today to discuss the options for your business.
Tel: 0800 0853598
E: info@mrgservices.org.uk
