The state of play
When job markets stall, one way to fill the gaps in the labour market is through apprenticeship schemes. However, according to the most recent government figures, apprenticeship programmes are experiencing dropout rates of around 50%.
High dropout rates mean lost money spent on training provision, ongoing skills gaps, and organisational disruption. The problem of retaining trainees until they complete training is an urgent issue that requires immediate attention.
Digital solutions provide a more structured and personalised approach to apprenticeship training in which organisations can predict at-risk learners early, support individualised learning experiences and monitor progress closely.
The challenge of high apprenticeship drop-out rates
High drop-out rates in apprenticeship programmes present a significant challenge for training providers. In addition, the number of new starts is of concern – apprenticeship starts were down by 3.5% in year 2022/2023 compared to 2021/2022. Every apprentice who doesn't complete their programme represents a loss of investment in training and development, which directly impacts both financial resources and overall organisational performance.
Financial consequences
The financial consequences of apprentice dropouts are severe. This is because expenses such as recruitment, onboarding, and partial training may accumulate rapidly creating a noticeable shortfall in finances.
Organisational performance
While high dropout rates have immediate financial implications, they also affect broader aspects of organisational performance. Further down the line, this leads to a shortage of skilled workers, impacting on productivity and efficiency. High drop out rates can also lead to reputational damage, thus making the training provider an increasingly unattractive proposition.
Potential for increased turnover
High dropout rates also affect the types of organisations apprentices work at post-training. With the expectation of a given number of fully trained apprentices, any shortfall puts untold pressure on existing employees, increasingly the likelihood of turnover.
Existing employees may feel their own career development is hindered when they have to cover for missing apprentices. This can lead to frustration and a perception that the organisation does not support their growth, prompting them to seek opportunities elsewhere.
Leveraging digital tools for improved completion rates
Digital solutions such as OneAdvanced’s Individual Learning Plans (ILPs) and Markbook can be instrumental in addressing the issue of high dropout rates. By offering personalised learning paths, OneAdvanced ILPs ensure that training is relevant, engaging, and aligned with the apprentice's career goals. Together, ILPs & Markbook create a supportive and engaging learning environment that addresses the individual needs of apprentices. Here’s how these tools can help tackle the issue of non-completion:
Identifying risk of non-completion
One of the main advantages of digital tools is that they allow for the early identification of apprentices who are at risk of non-completion. Attendance, performance metrics, and engagement levels are monitored using these tools which will raise an alarm concerning students who may need more attention before things get out of hand.
Building bespoke Individual Learning Plans (ILPs)
Through the ILP every trainee gets an individual plan that outlines what he or she should achieve within specific timelines. This personalised approach keeps them focused on their goals and motivated throughout the apprentice onboarding process by letting them know what is expected of them.
Tracking assessment and resits
The Markbook feature tracks exams comprehensively from one sitting to another, thus giving tutors and learners a clear indication on how far they have gone. This helps to identify any knowledge gaps in time and avoid scenarios in which trainees lag behind – mitigating the chance of drop out.
Early intervention strategies
Instituting early intervention measures is one of the ways in which digital tools are important. In order to identify any areas of concern quickly, tutors should continuously monitor learner engagement levels and performance. This enables them to intervene early with mentoring, and additional help or resources to get the learner back on track again. These early interventions go a long way to improving the chances of course completion.
Summing up
Digital solutions like ILP & Markbook from OneAdvanced play a crucial role in improving apprenticeship completion rates. By identifying at-risk apprentices, providing personalised learning plans, and tracking progress meticulously, these tools help ensure that more apprentices successfully complete their programmes.
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