A Bradford employment agency is looking to place 100 apprentices with small and medium firms across West Yorkshire this year The move by Stafforce, based in Salem Street, to expand its Apprentice Training Agency operation comes as a new study by the recruitment industry shows that more than two-thirds of companies do not offer apprenticeships.

Stafforce was awarded Apprenticeship Training Academy status by the National Apprenticeship Service in 2012. Its ATA recruitment and management service is delivered both within businesses and in classroom sessions with training providers, who are selected by the host companies.

The company says a major benefit to firms is they will be able to appoint apprentices who have been pre-vetted for their suitability, and the process provides more flexibility and support than if employers recruit directly.

Stafforce itself recruited eight of the apprentices who went through its ATA programme last year.

It intends to raise awareness across business sectors that an active apprenticeship scheme is an effective way of developing talent and investing in people who will help grow business. The agency will work with employers to identify and recruit the right people and manage training, development, payroll and other HR functions for them.

Jacqueline Lovewell, Stafforce’s Apprentice Academy head, said: “Bradford SMEs are not taking advantage of the opportunities that apprenticeships offer, but we can be the helping hand for those who want to inject new talent into their business by sharing the responsibility.

“With a great pool of talented young people here who are eager to succeed, we are working in and with companies to find the right apprentice for each of them, so that the optimum investment in the future can be made.

“The Stafforce Apprenticeship Academy is making it easier for employers to benefit from having apprentices working as part of their team.”

A recent report by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation showed that more than two-thirds of businesses do not offer apprenticeships, even though the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills recommends them as an effective way of bolstering workforces and importing skills.

BIS research found that 80 per cent of firms employing apprentices said they made the workplace more productive; were hard-working, contributed to growth and helped create a more motivated, satisfied workforce.

Julie Bates, Stafforce business manager, said: “Employers can gain all the competitive advantage to be had when embracing apprenticeships, while minimising their risk. Apprentices are a very potent means to cultivate the talent of the future.”