THE Apprentice was compulsive viewing for millions, certainly for my family, including my ten-year-old daughter.

As I write this, we have just had the final, which saw Yasmina Siadatan triumph and hear the long-awaited words “you’re hired”. The series provides more laughs than any sitcom as we watch in amazement while the “best business brains in Britain” make the most basic (and entertaining) mistakes, exhibiting a self-belief which appears totally unjustified by their actual abilities.

Sir Alan Sugar is also appearing in a TV advertisement describing how apprentices “make things happen”. In this case, he is speaking not of his own apprentice, but about the apprenticeship scheme run by the National Apprentice Service, through which more than 130,000 companies employ about 200,000 people.

The scheme is aimed at those aged over 16, living in England and who are not in full-time education.

There are different levels of apprenticeship, all leading to a package of qualifications including NVQs, key skills and technical qualifications. These qualifications are achieved over time as the employee works on the job to gain job specific skills and receives off-the job training from an approved provider (usually on a day release basis).

The training provider will receive financial assistance from the Learning and Skills Council. The employer should pay the employee a salary reflecting their skills, experience, age and ability, which must be a minimum of £80 per week (£95 from August) – the average weekly wage is about £170. For more detailed information, go to apprentice ships.org.uk.

Apprenticeships can help your organisation by directly addressing skills gaps.

Apprenticeships are designed by employers for employers, and tailored for the needs of the specific sector. Employers believe apprenticeships make them more competitive, increase productivity, reduce staff turnover and are effective in nurturing future management potential.

An employee can become an apprentice in the current climate – other things allowing – it may be better therefore to upskill the workforce than lay some of them off. Think Sir Alan Sugar, Think Apprenticeship.

■ Chris Beaumont is Tees Valley committee chairman with the North-East Chamber of Commerce.