With many school leavers unable to cope with the basics of the working environment, new traineeships are plugging the skills gap in Kent.

They also give employers the chance to ‘try before they buy’.

Company director Nick Baster smiled as he looked at the variety of CVs he received after advertising for an apprentice.

“Literacy levels ranged significantly,” said the founder of management consultancy Logic PM, based in Maidstone.

“The standard of applicant was varied but that is the same with any application, not just for apprenticeships.”

This lack of basic skills is not uncommon among jobseekers. Many companies feel school leavers – and even graduates – are not equipped for the requirements of the working environment.

“They are not always up to speed with what’s expected of them in the workplace and how to behave. They don’t always understand about time management or general workplace behaviour..." - KATO's Lindsay Jardine

“Employers have been saying young people aren’t coming out of school work-ready,” said KATO operations manager Lindsay Jardine, who represents 63 training providers in the county.

“They are not always up to speed with what’s expected of them in the workplace and how to behave. They don’t always understand about time management or general workplace behaviour. Also, many lack the ability to perform well at interviews and don’t have the skills to apply for a job.”

Training provider KT&A has found itself unable to enrol many people on its apprenticeship programmes for this reason.

Partnership manager Caroline Murray said: “You notice how unprepared they are for interview or to write a CV.

“That is not just people coming out of school. It is often people coming out of university.

“This is definitely an area, as a country, where we don’t get the support needed to young people.”

To tackle the problem, many providers are now offering traineeships to plug the skills gap.

Lasting between eight weeks and six months, the unpaid courses improve a trainee’s English and maths, before sending them on a work-experience placement, with no obligation on employers to offer a position.

One such scheme is Work Ready Extra, run by KT&A.

While in its infancy, having launched in September, there are positive signs so far.

Foundation business manager Mark Deveson said: “It is not as easy to get an apprenticeship as it was in the past.

“If you have no previous work experience in a sector, an employer might think you are too much of a risk.

“A lot of young people we work with have not got any qualifications and left school with few or no GCSEs.

“These people are on the bottom of the list but if they can attain certificates in English and maths through the scheme, they can get a foot through the door.”

At present, 100 young people are on the Work Ready Extra programme, working at employers across Kent and at KT&A’s centres in Margate, Folkestone, Canterbury, Maidstone, Gravesend and Gillingham.

Yet there is some confusion among employers of the benefits.

Ardo UK’s HR director Morag Bailey said: “Unless you have a job offer at the end, it is difficult to persuade managers it’s a good use of their time.”

Training providers disagree.

Mark added: “It’s a big commitment from an employer but it is a chance to try before you buy.

“These young people are keen and motivated. They want a job and have chosen to do this.”

It is the role of employers to turn young people into the managers of the future, according to the HR director of a frozen food company with a £56m turnover.

Morag Bailey has overseen the employment of three apprentices at Ardo UK, in Charing, in the last five years.

She says businesses want too much too quick when hiring young people.

“Are we expecting too much of education?” she said. “Are we expecting people to come out of education and dive straight into a job knowing exactly what to do?

“As employers we need to accept that is part of what an apprenticeship is about. People need to make that transition.

“Employers have forgotten that part of an apprenticeship is taking on someone who is younger and not necessarily had a bar job or worked at McDonalds.

“We have got to see it as part of our role to help people make the transition into the workforce, otherwise we will not be able to implement succession planning.

“We are looking at people who will be with us a number of years and when others leave or retire, we want to have employees who can step in.”

Businesses and schools can find out more information about apprenticeships with a visit from an ambassador.

Approved by the National Apprenticeship Service, they offer impartial advice on what apprenticeships involve.

IPS International ambassador Nicola Morris said: “Schools could enhance the support to young people by inviting impartial advice and guidance through apprenticeship information ambassadors.

They are not speaking for training providers or colleges with the aim of poaching the best students.

"They give impartial guidance on behalf of the National Apprenticeship Service.”

For information on apprenticeships, click here, or email kickstartkent@thekmgroup.co.uk