This is a question with an easy answer: yes. The size of a business has no bearing on whether or not you can facilitate employing an apprentice and, if anything, SMEs can be a more beneficial environment for an apprenticeship than a larger company, both from the perspective of the employer and the learner.
For an employer, an apprentice is an especially cost effective way to develop a workforce from the ground up, provides commercial value through their fresh perspective, and has a very positive influence on company morale.
For an apprentice, a startup provides an opportunity to be involved with a wider variety of professional activities in an environment that is friendly, creative and conducive to collaborative innovation. With a smaller number of staff, apprentices are able to learn more directly from business leaders and decision makers.
A more important criterion is the employer’s ability to mentor the apprentice throughout the duration of the programme in an environment that has been approved to meet health and safety standards by the apprenticeship provider’s assessor team. The level of training and support that an apprenticeship provider contributes ensures that an apprentice is appropriately self-sufficient for a professional setting, but an employer also has a duty of care to uphold in the case of employing a young person.