Training and upskilling your work force is integral to survival after the coronavirus lockdown, says Gloucestershire-based Apprenticeship Management Group.

The company looks after a wealth of industry apprenticeship programmes for organisations such as the Builders Merchants Federation, Electrical Distributors Association, British Coating Federation and British Furniture Makers Association.

And it has seen a rise in interest and apprenticeship uptake from those organisations in preparation for businesses which have opened under government guidance or are preparing to reopen.

Apprenticeship Management Group managing director John Henry said: "Businesses have to adapt. There are new practices and procedures to adopt so there are learning and development opportunities.

"In the building industry, as well as the retail sector, there is and will be increased hygiene and social distancing measures in place so once lockdown measures start to be lifted, they will need to adapt rapidly.

"We are working with companies that have Apprenticeship Levy to spend and are looking to how they adapt post COVID-19."

He also recommended firms using the situation to their advantage even if they are not a levy payer.

Mr Henry continued: "Apprentices are a valuable investment for any organisation.

"And we know from the businesses that we work with, and provide apprenticeships for, in times of difficulty it is often the apprentices who prove among the most valuable staff, delivering the frontline services that help keep businesses afloat.

"Apprentices can be your accountants, marketing or managers in time or you can use programmes to retrain or up-skill existing staff.

"Some apprentices who are being upskilled have been furloughed by their employers and are therefore able to spend more time focusing on their apprenticeships via digital platforms."

For more information contact The Apprenticeship Management Group  on 0117 2302313 or email info@theapprenticeshipgroup.co.uk .