Apprentices - your experiences

I am self employed, work alone, and considering taking on a staff member part time.
Someone has pointed out to me I can get an apprentice for around £110 per week, full time, the same cost as employing someone for around 15 hours per week.

I love the idea of training someone up, on a full time basis, but my worries are that they are young, I could get someone like my 16 year old brother, who I employed over the summer, and putting it bluntly, was pants! He was not bothered, constantly late, no use of iniative between tasks. Also the school year ended a few months ago, the new one has started, have all the best ones been taken up?

What are your experiences of apprentices?

We have several apprentices at work, mixed bag really, some are so enthusiastic, others make a good cuppa.

My best advice is if you are a small company, hold off until the right one comes along, and put a probationary period in the contract, this is essential if you are recieving a grant.