Apprenticeship Benefits for Business Owners

Implement a Successful Recruitment Strategy

Apprenticeship training provides an opportunity for apprentices to gain experience while employers assess the skills and abilities of prospective employees. Apprentices develop a better work ethic and increased loyalty to employers which leads to higher retention rates and lower turn-over.

Future Labour Force

Investing in apprenticeship training will assist your company's future labour needs by ensuring there are a sufficient amount of skilled workers available to replace the retiring journeypersons.

Improve Quality and Productivity

Training apprentices helps to maintain high standards and quality as companies develop skills and competencies to meet industry standards. Apprentices are also more likely to take a genuine interest in companies that invest in their training. Employers also have an opportunity to train apprentices in the company's systems and practices all leading to higher productivity.

Foster Safety

Journeypersons are made even more aware of safe work practices as they mentor apprentices, allowing for an overall safer workplace. Increased familiarity with a company's safety policies leads to fewer safety incidents. An added benefit to providing a safer work environment is the reduction of compensation costs.

Encourage Knowledge Exchange

The apprentice mentoring process renews and refreshes the skills of the journeyperson. The mentors may benefit from training apprentices because they revisit or rethink their technical skills as they teach or transfer their skills and knowledge to the apprentice.

Improved Company Reputation

Supporting apprenticeship training demonstrates professionalism by indicating a commitment to a highly skilled workforce and a dedication to professionalism and quality. This can help your company become an "employer of choice" in Saskatchewan.

The Return on Training Investment for Skilled Trades Employers in Canada-Phase II Final Report 2009 from the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum indicates that for every $1 spent on apprenticeship training, an employer receives a benefit, on average, of $1.47 or a net return of $0.47. Therefore, it is beneficial for employers to encourage and support their employees through the apprenticeship process.

Download a PDF of the Apprenticeship Benefits for Employers.