I am currently working in south London on a joint union learning fund (ULF) & Health Education South London-funded apprenticeships project. I started in December 2014 and, to be honest, when I started, I didn't know much about apprenticeships.

The reason I say that is to reassure union colleagues who feel they don't know much about this area. I can't believe how much I have learned in just over 6 months in post. My background is in youth and education work and, although I had worked for UNISON previously, going into this post, I knew very little about apprenticeship levels, providers, standards, training agencies.

At first, it felt like a bit of a minefield. But, half a year on and, I feel much more confident now. This is an emerging field with a growing number of roles being created to support it. So I just want to introduction and some ideas to support to trade unionists out there working with apprentices, in a myriad of ways.

What will create buy-in?

Trade unionists from regional secretaries to branch members are busy people. We all have too many demands on our time and too many worries about the current state of work and society. In this situation and because lots of people don't know that much about apprenticeships, it is easy for work related to them to be filed as low priority.

If you are looking to support apprentices, this is not good for you in terms of personal support and morale and it's also not good for the long term success of your plans. To elevate apprenticeships in others' eyes from, "too unfamiliar" to "want to look at", think about what's important to that individual or group. The points below may help.

Investing now, will prove fruitful in the not too distant future

Few apprenticeships last longer than two years, mostly only one. Investing in this workforce now, when their subs are low, could create a set of workers who see union membership as a natural part of working life culture.

Apprenticeships provide an opportunity to inform people at the start of, or a turning point in, their careers

Some apprentices have no knowledge of unions before they start their apprenticeship (equally many have some). Getting in at the start may be easier than with other workers who may have impressions (correctly or incorrectly) about trade unions.

The union workforce is aging and apprentices are often great potential activists

Personally I don't like phrases like, "Young people are the future of the union." They may well be, but more importantly, they can, and should, be part of the body of the union now.

It is unlikely that their potential will be unlocked if they are seen as a future resource, rather than a current one. For union branches who need to look at building their activist base and organising potential, they should look to engaging their apprentices.

We were all young once!

It's a cliché but this is something I feel I have to remind some people of on a far too regular basis. Not all apprentices are young, but many are. When we were young, we wanted to know our rights & we wanted to be protected at work.

We were often interested in politics from a very young age. Lots of people see young apprentices now in a way that they would have resented when they were young themselves. There is no need to see them as drastically different to any other worker.

If anyone is interested in discussing apprenticeship work further, please contact me on [email protected] or 07432549728.