EP #44 – The Honest Reality Of Taking On An Apprentice w/ Hollie Stallworthy
Overview
From navigating early frustrations to seeing real progress on-site, this episode with Hollie dives deep into what it really takes to train someone from scratch, and why it’s one of the most rewarding decisions a tradesperson can make.
Whether you’re considering taking on your first apprentice or just want to understand the human side of mentorship, this conversation is for you.
Highlights
Are apprentices worthwhile?
– (1:47) Having an apprentice takes time, costs money, and consumes your energy, but Hollie says it’s always worthwhile.
– (2:30) Apprentices start to become useful after about 6 months to a year. What matters is how much they care and how much they’re learning.
– (4:49) People often moan about apprentices.
Training a new apprentice
– (6:45) The first thing Hollie learned was how to service a boiler, and this is what she’s assigned her apprentice to do. That way, they can learn how a boiler works in a slightly easier and more repetitive environment.
– (8:30) Hollie’s apprentice is a full-time trainee. It’s expensive, but he’s learning the job as they do it.
– (10:15) After a year, Hollie’s apprentice is already having a positive impact on the speed of jobs, even though he’s shadowing an engineer at all times.
How much does having an apprentice cost?
– (12:00) Getting an apprentice through a Government channel will be cheaper. Hollie’s full-time trainee is more expensive. From the ages of 16-18, it costs around £12,000 per year in salary.
– (13:00) Because of this cost, it’s important to make sure it’s the right person.
– (13:52) Once the apprentice gets a bit older, they’ll cost more. But at that point, they can start providing more value to the business.
Advantages of hiring an apprentice or trainee vs a fully-qualified engineer
– (15:05) Loyalty is a big reason, as well as the fact that taking on an engineer is much more financially straining at first.
– (16:10) You can also train an apprentice to work in the way that you do.
Should you take on an apprentice?
– (19:42) Training an apprentice can feel extremely rewarding, but it changes the dynamic of being a self-employed engineer from a social aspect.
– (22:44) Never force yourself to take on an apprentice. You need to be in a good financial position and be able to see the bigger picture. It’s a long-term investment.