The start of a new year is always a fresh opportunity to think about new ideas and ambitions, to energise ourselves with all that is possible and to create plans towards goals and targets that excite us! However, the start to 2025 has been somewhat stuttered and at times, stagnant, due to the amount of unpredictability surrounding apprenticeships politically. A politically unstable environment for apprenticeships is not good for business. Providers need time to plan the direction of their business and associated costs, resources, staff, systems, etc., in line with the projected number of learners due to enrol and/or exit their programmes.
You cannot plan for everything in this business – companies can go bust; learners can lose their jobs and staff can leave for pastures new – thus certainty is far from guaranteed. Perhaps, the only thing that is guaranteed is that apprenticeships will remain (in some way shape or form) a critical programme to deliver skilled and qualified labour to industry. And, whilst this remains the case, there will always be room for optimism alongside contingency planning.
A politically unstable environment for apprenticeships is not good for business.
So, what can apprenticeship training providers do until the politics unravel and become clearer? Right now could be a good time to take stock and review the plan for the business; will it be more of the same or diversification into new programmes and markets? Could now be the right time to streamline your offer and increase your niche? Maybe now is the right time to review sales pipelines, the mix of clients and programmes relative to assessing risk when working with employers?
5 Top tips to reduce uncertainty
There’s always so much to do within an apprenticeship business so here are 5 of our top suggestions that could help to refocus your thoughts amid these uncertain times:
- Keep communicating with your staff around any changes to business plans and/or strategy – they’ll appreciate it!
- Keep engaging with your employers – inform them about the potential changes to apprenticeships and tell them to contact you if they want to know more, which may open up new commercial conversations.
- Maintain connections and connectivity externally with a view to reaching potential new clients – keep transmitting good news stories even during changeable times.
- Re-assess or re-evaluate any potential risk(s) to the business to ensure that risk ratings are upgraded/updated as necessary – this will enhance your preparedness for any changes that may need to be made in the short, medium and long term.
- Review if systems and processes can be improved to maximise operational efficiency for staff and impact/outputs for clients.
The apprenticeship sector is no stranger to change – in fact ‘change’ is almost guaranteed in this business. And, whilst unpredictability, volatility and uncertainty is never good for any business, what staff really need is strong leadership, direction and vision to get through unsettling times.
Author: Bally Bhogal
