Could One of Your Existing Staff Be Trained Through an Apprenticeship?
Most employers think apprenticeships are only for new starters or young people. In reality, some of the most successful apprenticeships are used to develop people who are already part of the business-improving skills, retention, and productivity without hiring. This short guide will help you understand when apprenticeships work for existing staff, when they don’t, and how to check suitability before committing.
Apprenticeships Aren’t Just for New Hires!
Apprenticeships can be used to:
Upskill employees who have grown into a role without formal training
Support recently promoted staff
Develop high-potential employees you want to retain
Build skills internally instead of recruiting externally
What matters most isn’t age or job title, it’s whether the role allows learning to be applied consistently in day-to-day work.
When an Apprenticeship Can Work for Existing Staff
An apprenticeship is more likely to be a good fit if:
The employee has a stable role with regular responsibilities
There is a clear skills gap linked to their job
Learning can be applied on the job (not just theory)
The business can support learning alongside work
You’re thinking longer-term, not just short-term cover
In these situations, apprenticeships often outperform traditional short courses because development happens in real time, in the workplace.
When It’s Usually Not the Right Time
Apprenticeships tend to be less effective when:
The role is constantly changing or unclear
The employee has only just joined the business
There’s no time for learning alongside work
You need someone fully competent immediately
In these cases, it’s often better to stabilise the role first and revisit apprenticeships later.
Common Employer Mistakes
One of the biggest mistakes employers make is committing to an apprenticeship before checking suitability.
This can lead to:
Frustrated employees
Missed learning opportunities
Apprenticeships feeling like an extra burden rather than a benefit
A short suitability check can prevent this entirely.
Free Check:
Is an Apprenticeship Suitable for Your Staff Team?
We’ve created a 2–3 minute suitability checker to help employers decide whether an apprenticeship could work for someone already in their team.
How the Apprenticeship Landscape Is Changing
The apprenticeship system has evolved significantly in recent years and it’s continuing to change.
Recent Skills England initiatives and wider reforms are increasingly focused on:
Aligning training more closely to real employer skills needs
Supporting workforce development, not just entry-level hiring
Making it easier for employers to use apprenticeships as part of long-term skills planning for learning and development
This shift reflects a broader move away from viewing apprenticeships purely as a recruitment tool, and towards seeing them as a strategic workforce development option.
For employers, this means apprenticeships are becoming:
More flexible in how they support existing roles
Better aligned to productivity and progression
A viable alternative to external recruitment for certain skills gaps
What This Means for Employers Right Now
If you’re considering developing someone already in your team, the question is no longer just “Can we hire an apprentice?” it’s:
“Could funded training help us grow the skills we already have?”
With the current direction of travel, employers who take time to assess suitability and timing are often best placed to benefit.
As training and funding become more closely aligned to employer skills needs, proactive businesses are increasingly using apprenticeships as a strategic development tool rather than a reactive hiring solution.
Free Check: Is an Apprenticeship Suitable for One of Your Staff?
We’ve created a 2–3 minute suitability checker to help employers decide whether an apprenticeship could work for someone already in their team.
The check looks at:
Role stability
Skills gaps
Business capacity
Timing
You’ll receive an honest outcome, including when an apprenticeship may not be the right solution.
Take the free suitability test here!
(No obligation. No sales pitch.)
Final Thought
Apprenticeships and funded training are increasingly being positioned as part of a long-term skills strategy, not a box-ticking exercise.
Taking a few minutes to assess suitability upfront can help ensure any training, funded or otherwise, genuinely supports your business.
If you’re unsure, and want to talk your options through with a real human then feel free to get in touch with us here at JBC.