For National Apprenticeship Week our CFO Michelle Williams has shared the key organisational benefits of introducing apprenticeships.

As a Trust, we believe in developing and retaining high-quality staff across all functions – including teaching, support, finance, HR, estates, IT, and administration – is essential for long-term sustainability. Apprenticeships have become a key strategic tool in strengthening our workforce, improving capacity, and ensuring we make the most of the Apprenticeship Levy.

Why We Introduced Apprenticeships

From a CFO perspective, apprenticeships offer a cost-effective way to grow talent internally whilst supporting organisational improvement. We pursued them in order to:

  • Maximise use of the Apprenticeship Levy and reduce external training expenditure
  • Build a pipeline of skilled staff aligned to MAT values and operational needs
  • Increase capability across key support functions and reduce recruitment pressures
  • Drive professionalisation and consistency across all schools
  • Promote opportunity, empowerment, and long-term career development

Impact on Teams, Schools, and the Trust

Apprenticeships have delivered positive outcomes at all levels:

  • Improved internal capacity – apprentices provide essential support and help teams manage increasing workloads
  • Better retention and staff morale – employees feel valued and invested in
  • Strengthened leadership pipelines across finance, estates, administration, and school operations
  • More consistent practices across schools due to structured, accredited training
  • A culture of continuous learning, where professional development becomes embedded rather than optional

Apprenticeship pathways offer measurable benefits:

  • Enhanced competence and confidence among staff
  • Operational efficiencies driven by improved knowledge and new skills
  • Greater organisational stability, reducing recruitment costs
  • Increased diversity and fresh perspectives within teams
  • More innovation, as apprentices challenge existing processes and introduce new ideas

Recommendation to Other Leaders

I strongly recommend apprenticeships to other school and Trust leaders. They are a strategic investment that:

  • Utilises levy funding more effectively
  • Builds a resilient, skilled workforce
  • Supports succession planning
  • Improves retention and staff wellbeing
  • Aligns professional development with Trust priorities

Most importantly, apprenticeships empower individuals while strengthening the organisation as a whole. For a MAT seeking sustainable growth and long-term impact, apprenticeships are one of the most effective workforce strategies available.