The sector needs to get behind the event apprenticeship programme to tackle the current skills shortage - or it could be lost forever.
That's the message from Richard John, chief operating officer of event apprenticeship provider Realise, in National Apprenticeship Week.
He has called for organisations to 'grow their own' in response to the current talent crisis - and he warns that unless the sector makes better use of the event apprenticeship programme, it will disappear.
John said: "We’ve had some amazing success stories, and some organisations have really got behind the programme, but not enough of them; I get really fed up with the hypocrisy of many players who keeps banging on about skill shortages and won’t take apprentices. They'll make the excuses saying the programme is too long, or that they can't guarantee the apprentices will be skilled enough, and you think well, you're just constantly setting yourself up to fail.
“We've lost a huge number of people from the industry and the answer is simple: grow your own. If you look at the numbers of apprentices at the moment, yes, they are disappointing. Yes, I know we’ve been battered by the uncertainty of when we can fully reopen, but organisations need to demonstrate commitment.
“I don't want to be negative but frankly, if I was the government, I would be thinking, 'Well, you've not got very many of these events apprentices, why should we renew it? Let's get rid of it. Obviously, there isn't the demand'. That would be really, really sad, but the industry will only have itself to blame. So much effort went into creating the events apprenticeship. University degrees are great, but they shouldn’t be the only route in.”
As pioneers of the event apprenticeship programme, Realise has delivered more successful event apprenticeships across England than all the other providers combined. But John says that there is room for much more take-up of the programme - and outlined some of the advantages of taking on an apprentice.
“I'd like to see some of the big names in the sector saying this is a really good idea to take on an apprentice”, he said. “I'd like to see the Cabinet Office who we've done a lot of work for in the past, who have a big events division, taking on an apprentice. I'd like to see some of the many industry trade associations take on an apprentice.
“The number of people who came on the Trailblazer group who created the standard for an apprentice then didn't take one is frustrating. As an industry we do have a reputation for constantly chasing after the latest shiny thing and not following it through.
“The success stories are there. All the research says apprentices are far more loyal to their employers. And actually apprentice salaries are not under the same kind of wage inflation, although we’re not encouraging people to pay anything other than proper rates. So there's loads of pragmatic reasons for doing it, as well as the fact it's the right thing to do. Plus, if you don't support the apprenticeship, we could be at risk of losing it and that would be a huge shame.”
M&IT editor Paul Harvey is a journalist with more than 15 years of experience. He began his career in the local press, working for various titles across the north. Since joining M&IT in 2013, he has become a trusted and respected voice in the sector, championing event professionals and reporting on all aspects of the events industry for the brand.
