“Good for Business, Good for the Economy”

Watson goes on to say: “I know this is also true in our sector, engineering and manufacturing, which has a long standing tradition of apprentice engagement and employing school leavers to start them on the road to success. Evidence of this recognition lies in the Aerospace industry for example, where 61 per cent of firms recruited school leavers aged 17-18 (2). Therefore, providing that firms make a commitment to training, young people leaving school can be guaranteed worthwhile and rewarding careers”

Watson concludes: “There is a common misconception that young people entering the world of work after leaving school fail to make a lasting impression. As I have known for many years, and as research shows, school leavers are extremely valuable to firms and can have a positive impact on the growth of the business. But, raw talent needs to be nurtured, and firms must commit to training new recruits in order to capitalise on the inherent skills of these young people. Encouraging them onto apprenticeship programmes will develop their skill set and enable them to progress through the ranks.”