Apprenticeships are being used in many ways and are one of the best ways to attract and retain diverse talent not least because apprentices have to be salaried during the apprenticeship, and their training costs/quals are largely covered.
Apprenticeships are being used in a myriad of ways. The training is free to levy payers and costs only 5% for non-levy payers. Please note that training providers will often amend and rebadge standards to ensure they fit with a particular industry, or a bespoke cohort brand need.
Our work with apprenticeships has demonstrated that they are one of the best ways to successfully recruit and keep diverse talent. And it is diverse talent which McKinsey tell us are more likely than ever to outperform their peer organisations on profitability. Apprenticeships are also an excellent way to teach craft skills (such as Junior Advertising Creative or Advertising and Media Exec or Junior Content Producer) and are at the cutting edge of data and digital with standards suitable for both entry level (Data Technician, Digital Marketer, Social Media and Community Management) and degree level (Data Scientist).
Entry-level talent
Apprenticeships for entry-level talent ensure that anyone from any background can be taken on because they are paid a living wage. Apprentices rapidly become useful due to the training – which takes place often in blocks, and virtually – and their endpoint assessment means they are definitely up to the job! Popular standards are:
- Advertising and Media Executive – which includes the IPA Foundation Certificate qualification.
- Digital Marketer – Apprentices must achieve one internationally recognised vendor or professional qualification such as Google Analytics IQ or CIM Dot Native. It is being adapted by many training providers to agency bespoke needs - for example the modular approach can focus on SEO/PPC or Social Media specifically or a wider focus on digital marketing more generally.
- Data Technician
- Junior Content Producer - this is being updated to Content Creator from this autumn
- Junior Advertising Creative
- Social Media and Community Management
- Business Administrator
To upskill and improve craft skills
- Data Analyst
- Associate Project Manager
- Media Production Coordinator
- Marketing Executive
- PR and Comms
- Creative Industries Production Manager
- HR Support
- Payroll Assistant Manager
Managing people and leadership skills
There are many training providers who offer these standards but some known within our industry are Bauer Academy, AllSpring Media, Marketing Debuts, Multiverse, JGA Group.
AIM is a very good endpoint assessment organisation which covers many of these standards.
IPA Training Forum: Ten tips on sourcing Gen Z talent
As Gen Z talent becomes an increasingly important part of future-proofing your business, so does the conversation around how and where to find them. We’ll be running a Training Forum – free webinar – on 23 February, 10am: Reserve your free space.
Contact us
There are many ways to attract and retain diverse talent and if you want to hear about them please contact Gwyn March at [email protected] for our entry-level talent advisory service.
Last updated 17 April 2024