A new report from the UK engineering and manufacturing skills charity Enginuity, in partnership with The Engineer, outlines practical steps that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the engineering and manufacturing sectors should adopt to ensure the success of their apprenticeship schemes.

The ‘Unlocking the value of apprenticeships for engineering and manufacturing SMEs’ report is based on research carried out to investigate the issues engineering and manufacturing SMEs face with apprentices completing apprenticeships.

The report has been commissioned to understand why apprenticeship achievement rates in England are falling below the government’s target of 67 per cent by 2024/25. It also examines the barriers faced by employers and explores how some SMEs have overcome them within the apprenticeship system.

By comparing survey responses from SMEs with high and low achievement rates, it highlights the importance of mentoring, benchmarking apprenticeship schemes, and collaborating closely with training providers and colleges.

Drawing on the survey insights, the report offers ten recommendations for employers, training providers and policymakers within the sector.

For more information and to download the full report, please visit the Enginuity website.