{"id":47132,"date":"2021-03-10T14:00:17","date_gmt":"2021-03-10T13:00:17","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2021-03-10T13:15:18","modified_gmt":"2021-03-10T12:15:18","slug":"how-apprentices-drive-competitive-growth-and-innovation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-gb\/industry\/blog\/cross-industry\/2021\/03\/10\/how-apprentices-drive-competitive-growth-and-innovation\/","title":{"rendered":"How apprentices drive competitive growth and innovation"},"content":{"rendered":"

Apprenticeships are an opportunity. An opportunity for your organisation to acquire the talent you need and remain competitive. And an opportunity for apprentices to develop vital digital skills and get a head start in their chosen career. 92 percent of apprentices<\/a> stay with the company they start with and remain more loyal. After all, they\u2019ve started their career in a place that values them and helps build their skills.<\/p>\n

Apprenticeships are becoming a very popular way into the working world. It allows young people to earn a salary and get a head-start in their careers. While doing this they are learning important skills and gaining certifications.<\/p>\n

\"Learning<\/p>\n

This year, Microsoft hosted a virtual event for National Apprenticeship Week. We looked at how to build a supportive culture for a successful apprenticeship programme. We also looked at ways to democratise digital skills throughout your organisation.<\/p>\n

Building a growth mindset in your culture<\/h2>\n

We engaged in inspiring sessions, delivered by Selina Tishler. She spoke of the history of Microsoft, starting from the beginning with Paul Allen and Bill Gates. From here, we saw the main drivers of change within Microsoft. We learnt how Satya made changes to the culture to empower employees. This shift alongside the focus of diversity and emphasis on mental health has led to a more inclusive community. This change to a \u2018learn-it-all\u2019 culture means that challenges become opportunities.<\/p>\n

This growth mindset is key to apprentices to find their feet on this journey. It also helps organisations create passionate, excited employees who want to acheive more.<\/p>\n

\"Growth<\/p>\n

Helping apprentices succeed in the hybrid workplace<\/h2>\n

In the new world of work, people have different expectations of the workplace. This includes apprentices. It\u2019s a reflection of their experiences with technology. This means they may expect flexible devices and tools, or a remote working policy. We know that the last year means organisations may have already started building a hybrid workplace. Microsoft and YouGov<\/a> research found that almost nine out of 10 employees report that their businesses have adapted to hybrid working. But you can\u2019t forget to ensure you adapt your apprenticeship programmes to the hybrid workplace too.<\/p>\n

We talked to current Microsoft apprentices to get some insight into how they have faced the changing world of work. We also spoke to some managers on how they can help apprentices in the hybrid workplace.<\/p>\n

\"Tips<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Tips<\/strong><\/p>\n

Building technical skills in apprentices<\/h2>\n

As I mentioned earlier, apprentices are a great way for organisations to develop technical capabilities in new technology such as AI. By utilising AI, organisations can streamline operations, discover new insights, deliver better customer experiences and more. But it\u2019s not just important for apprentices to learn these skills. The ability to re- and upskill needs to be available to all employees \u2013 especially if you want to drive that growth mindset culture. It will make you more innovative, more competitive, more attractive to new talent and therefore \u2013 more profitable.<\/p>\n

Despite digital acceleration in 2020, our recent report<\/a> found 69 percent of UK leaders believe their organisation has a digital skills gap. Luckily, we have plenty of resources to share with organisations or people wanting to see how they can leverage AI or other technology:<\/p>\n