Subsea UK to support SMEs with apprenticeships

01 October, 2015

Research conducted by the industry body which represents the UK’s £9 billion subsea sector revealed the barriers for SMEs in setting up apprenticeships. These are broadly the time and cost involved in what is perceived as a complex process.

Subsea UK’s scheme will provide financial support and specific help with making the process simpler so that small firms can benefit from apprentices and develop the next generation of subsea workers.

Subsea UK chief executive, Neil Gordon, said: “The majority of our 320 members are smaller sized companies who are put off recruiting apprentices because they lack the HR knowledge and resources to deal with the overall recruitment and management process. Our findings revealed that they often turn to training providers or organisations but often this doesn’t work for them. The research showed that the most effective approach to make it easier for these companies to take on apprentices would be practical, one-to-one consultancy to support them through the process rather than producing generic guidance which is already available through other skills organisations.”

Subsea UK will offer tailored support to individual companies to help them with the overall recruitment process, development of training plans, setting clear roles and responsibilities for on-the-job training and conducting assessments. By working directly with companies, Subsea UK can makes sure their needs are aligned to the apprenticeship programme and help them access funding.

Gordon added: “By working with companies on a one-to-one basis, we will help lift the barriers that currently prevent them from launching apprenticeship schemes to secure a supply of people with the skills and competences they need, which are often not available on the external job market.”