Prospective apprentices in Cumbria are set to get additional support in employment and training.

Working alongside Kendal College, Lakes College and Gen2, HR consultants Realise HR aims to make hiring apprentices easier for business owners by helping navigate the complications of employment law, employee relations, and fostering positive experiences for apprentices.

This initiative supplements the assistance already provided by educational partners, with the intention of motivating more businesses to engage with this form of training and ensuring higher completion rates among apprentices.

Martin Norris, Head of Recruitment at Realise HR, said: “According to a recent think tank, we know that almost half of apprentices (47 per cent) drop out of their training programmes.

"When you look at the detail, a lot of the reasoning comes down to their experiences at work.

"For example, 41 per cent of apprentices feel that their apprenticeship is poorly organised, and only 14 per cent believe that their mentorship is appropriately managed.

"If you’re an SME or employing apprentices for the first time, it can be difficult to know the ins and outs of how to structure apprenticeships within your business and make sure they’re legally compliant.

"Through consultation with local training providers, we’ve been able to design structured resources to help make apprenticeship employment a much easier process.”

During the initial design phase, Realise HR gathered a team of apprenticeship stakeholders, including the Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership, All Together Cumbria, and the Construction Industry Training Board.

With representatives from apprenticeship employers and training providers from across the county, Realise HR seeks to improve the apprenticeship experience for both employers and trainees in this North-West region.

Kelli Horner, Head of Business Engagement at Kendal College, said: “Businesses are realising how valuable apprentices are to their sustainability and growth and want to know their approach is going to offer fantastic employment opportunities.

"Working with Realise HR and other training providers, we identified areas where employers are requesting more support, often in meeting necessary legal requirements and in structuring apprenticeship experiences within their respective businesses.

"Partnering with Realise HR, we are able to offer valuable support from an experience and reliable source to meet their individual needs.”