LONDON, ENGLAND — Industries struggling with labour shortages and hard-pressed to fill vacancies could benefit from apprenticeships.
Employment opportunities like apprenticeships could be a practically perfect way to provide a stable job to interested workers while providing the hands-on training that will ensure hard-to-fill roles have an adequate labour supply.
This is especially relevant for the green sector at the moment, which has seen an incredible boom over the past few years. Some experts estimate that green jobs have jumped up by around 250 percent in the last five years alone.
But the trouble is that the industry is now struggling to find enough skilled workers to take up that surplus of green jobs.
Resource sites like EcoCareers have stepped up in an effort to bridge the gap between employers and job seekers and to help address the labour shortage.
However, apprenticeships in the green economy could be another viable solution to the challenge at hand.
Job Training Needed to Keep Up with Labour Demands
As parts of the United Kingdom acknowledge National Apprenticeship Week, from February 6 to 12, the regional executive of a major clean energy company spoke highly of the benefits both companies and job seekers could reap through apprenticeships.
Tom Glover, UK Country Chair at RWE, said the company plans to invest billions of pounds into the green economy over the next decade or so. “Apprenticeships are now such good options — not just at RWE, but across the energy industry and other sectors too,” he said. “They are being done properly, with proper pay, proper qualifications, and proper schemes. It’s how it should be.”
But he also added, “While the earn-as-you-learn way of doing things is extremely attractive for those starting out on their chosen career paths, apprenticeships are also of huge value to employers. [...] Take the energy industry as an example… As we drive towards the goal of net zero, apprenticeships are crucial to maintaining pace with the rapid rate of growth.”
“Apprenticeship schemes are essential for training people so they have technical knowledge and specific skills,”
According to Glover, RWE’s expansion plans mean the company will need far more employees than it has now. “Apprenticeship schemes are essential for training people so they have technical knowledge and specific skills,” he noted.
“This year, we’re offering about 28 apprenticeships, but we have 50 live apprentices across the business."
“Most are likely to secure well-paid roles and an exciting career at RWE, with the remainder having excellent CVs that will be very attractive to other energy companies.”