As pupils across the country receive their GCSE exam results this week, employers need to recognise the benefits of offering apprenticeships to some of these young people.

In doing so, companies can help their business and also address skills shortages.

Skills remains a big issue in the UK. Sector skills council e-Skills UK says 13 per cent of the companies it works with are suffering a shortage of skilled workers.

By training apprentices, employers can plan for the future by ensuring that the skills critical to their success are not lost.

There are already more than 250,000 people taking an apprenticeship in England alone, and we are working to give even more young people, and adults, this valuable opportunity. There are numerous benefits for the employer and the apprentice.

Employers not only gain a highly motivated and loyal workforce, but also see their productivity boosted. Apprentices can make a difference to their business from day one.

The individuals benefit from improving their skills and career prospects, while continuing to learn and earn a wage.

As young people across the country are facing challenging choices about their future, I would encourage businesses to connect with schools and recognise the huge untapped talent across the country.

Apprenticeships combine theory and on-the-job training and have so far worked well for companies in the IT sector, with 1,638 learners starting apprenticeships in IT services and development in 2007/2008.

There are countless success stories illustrating the mutual benefits to employers and employees, such as Leeds-based Complete Computer Systems.

The company, set up in 1990 as a one-man operation, now employs seven members of staff, two of whom are apprentices.

Managing director Bill Lumsden believes that on-the-job training combined with academic knowledge produces the best technicians.

The real gains from apprenticeships are to be found in the moulding of the young person in attitude, determination and flexibility ­ – all essential in running a small business where our customers expect a personal touch. Apprenticeships are a long-term investment that will eventually pay dividends after the initial settling in period.

A 2008 Apprenticeship Awards finalist, Forum Computers, also sees apprentices as fundamental to its business. On discovering that there were big limitations in the IT industry in the Lincoln area, founder Matt Wooley made a decision to take on young local people as apprentices.

All Forum Computers’ apprentices have become fully employed at the company and have developed into highly-skilled technicians.

As these two examples show, apprenticeships help businesses to have the right people, with the right skills, at the right time.

With thousands of young people now considering what path to take, this is the perfect opportunity to find out what apprenticeships can do for your business.

David Way is national director of apprenticeships at the Learning and Skills Council. For more information on apprenticeships visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk or call 08000 150 400.