Earn and Learn

What is Earn and Learn

”Earn and Learn” describes a group of routes into and within employment which combine study with practical experience, so enabling individuals to gain the knowledge and skills required to pursue their chosen occupation.

For The 5% Club, earn and learn includes –

  • Apprenticeships at all levels
  • Formalised graduate training programmes
  • Sponsored students

It does not include –

  • Single instance/short-term training
  • Internships
  • Work experience (freestanding or related to qualifications).

Why is Earn and Learn important

  • Multi-level – accessible to all. Alternative to university for some graduate occupations, including reduced financial cost.
  • Produce individuals with knowledge, experience and hand—on practical skills valued by employers.
  • Routes to economic independence for individuals from challenging backgrounds.
  • Significant Return on Investment for employers – employee effectiveness, motivation and retention.
  • Significant Return on Investment to society as a whole – reducing cost of NEETs (individuals Not in Education, Employment or Training) and improving productivity.

Why hire an apprentice?

The following is an excerpt from a recent article in FE News by Chris Stoker-Jones, Director of Vocational Training at Catch22

Apprentices are, time and again, proving to be hugely valuable assets.

  • Boosting productivity: Research shows each apprentice brings a gain in productivity of more than £10,000 per year for their employer, with figures for some sectors being even higher.
  • Filling skills gaps: As the needs of the workplace evolve and the impact of Brexit becomes clear, there will be skills gaps to fill. Taking on apprentices can help fill those gaps.
  • Competing in the modern marketplace: You can train apprentices in the skills that your business needs now and in the future. In industry research, 77% of employers agreed that taking on apprentices helped to make their organisations more competitive.
  • Building staff loyalty: Staff typically feel loyal to employers who have invested in their training and are therefore more engaged and motivated to stay.
  • Cost-effective training: Apprenticeships are particularly cost-effective as a form of training because, while employers pay apprentices’ wages, funding is available to cover many other training costs.
  • Supporting social mobility: ‘Earn and learn’ training opportunities, such as apprenticeships, are key to helping people from disadvantaged backgrounds enter the workplace and progress into fulfilling careers.