Davies brought together many of the top employers within the insurance sector to discuss how to best prepare for peak season – which occurs around September/October and often sees a significant increase in the number of apprenticeship starts.

In September 2022 Davies observed an unprecedented number of disruptions, particularly due to the ongoing war for talent. Many apprentices accepted multiple offers from competing employers, leading to a scramble for the best candidates. Some changed their career direction entirely, and approximately 28% of candidates backed out even after accepting a job offer.

To help pave the way for a smoother recruitment process during the 2023 peak season, Davies arranged this webinar to discuss strategies and share best practices to help employers retain their investments in talent acquisition and apprenticeship programmes and ensure that top talent remains within the Insurance sector.

Poll results

Question 1: Did you experience challenges recruiting for September 2022 either before or after job offers were issued?

Question 2: Are you working with Davies to avoid duplication between job roles and apprenticeship onboarding processes for September 2023?

Question 3: Did you use any strategies to consciously ‘keep warm’ your apprentices and graduates between offer and start date?

Question 4: Are your September intakes receiving your main company onboarding/induction (usually offered to all new starters) alongside other staff or their own separate onboarding?

Question 5: Have you had sight of feedback on last year’s intake’s onboarding experience?

Strategies

In the webinar, we discussed various strategies that employers can use to engage with apprentices and retain them after they have accepted a job offer. Here are some of the key strategies mentioned:

• Keep in touch webinars: Organise fun activities like quizzes, games, or virtual escape rooms to help apprentices connect with each other and break the ice.
• Drip feeding apprenticeship information: Gradually provide apprentices with essential information about their programme to help them better understand their upcoming responsibilities.
• Webinars for parents: Engage with parents to help them understand the benefits and career prospects of the apprenticeship programme, and how they can support their children.
• Branded merchandise: Send branded items to apprentices throughout the summer to make them feel connected to the organisation.
• Motivational messages and personalised touches: Send motivational messages, welcome cards, or birthday gifts to make apprentices feel valued and wanted.
• Pre-reading tasks and treasure hunts: Assign small tasks or online treasure hunts related to the organisation or industry to keep apprentices engaged and familiarise them with their new roles.
• Keeping in touch sessions: Maintain regular contact with apprentices through phone calls, emails, or virtual sessions to strengthen their connection with the organisation.

Key themes from the breakout rooms

During the breakout rooms at the webinar, participants discussed their experiences and best practices around apprenticeship retention. The following four key themes emerged from the discussions:

Building Connections and Support Networks:

Participants discussed the importance of adding value to the recruitment journey through webinars and skills training, regardless of whether applicants are successful. They also emphasised the value of implementing a buddy system to connect new apprentices with existing employees, ensuring line managers are active in welcoming new apprentices, and organising meetings or coffee catch ups.

To break the ice and help build new connections, providing a handbook containing short bios and hobbies of fellow apprentices was proposed. Equipping apprentices with buddies and mentors to share experiences and direct them towards helpful resources was also deemed essential.

Balancing Communication and Information:

The importance of maintaining a balance between consistent communication and not overwhelming apprentices with excessive information was stressed. Participants suggested that the period after final exams (but before September) is an ideal window to offer support for transitioning from education to the workplace. Providing personalised merchandise was also recommended to make apprentices feel valued and connected to the organisation.

Promoting Diversity:

Challenges related to diversity in recruitment and retention were discussed, and participants shared strategies to address them. Engaging with potential apprentices early in the process, showcasing career pathways and existing success stories, and adapting recruitment strategies to be current and appealing to the target audience, such as using social media platforms such as TikTok and Facebook, were suggested. Attendees also recommended fostering a warm relationship with prospective apprentices and engaging in friendly networking to build rapport between apprentices.

Emphasising Workplace Engagement:

The importance of apprentices spending at least three days a week in the office was emphasised, allowing them to connect with the brand and their colleagues. Participants suggested offering small tasks or online treasure hunts related to the organisation or industry to keep apprentices engaged and familiarise them with their new roles. Lastly, maintaining regular contact with apprentices through phone calls, emails, or virtual sessions was seen as vital to strengthen their connection to the organisation.

What’s next?

As always, the Taskforce will continue focusing on various aspects of the apprenticeship experience and searching for new ways to enrich the process for all parties involved. We will be holding presentations in December to share recommendations from ongoing projects, such as Level 4 apprenticeships, digital-enabled learning, and alumni networking/mentoring.

Our next event will take place in July 2023 at our London office with guest speaker Jake Tween (DSW), where we will discuss end point assessments and share some tips and tricks for success. Spots are booking up fast so be sure to reserve your place!