Apprentice changing Employers
Discussion
I work for a small company that sometimes run apprenticeships - we have a lad in year 1 of his 2 years at the moment.
Somebody else emailed me out of the blue to ask if we would take him on. He's in year 2 of the same apprenticeship and wasn't happy with his employer - felt he was being managed out. He had already handed in his notice before having a plan B. Apparently his college lecturer thought we would be a good fit (it's also in their interest to find him a new employer).
He's done a couple of trial days and is a nice enough lad, but not close to where we'd hope capability-wise in the second year of an apprenticeship. His work will have been a bit different and part of the problem was he was given a task and left to it, rather than properly learning on the job.
The internet (yeah I know!) seems to suggest he would start a new apprentice agreement with us as a new employer - this gives us a year at the apprentice rate (we pay ~20% above this). He seems to think we would take over his existing agreement and pay at least NMW as we do for our apprentices in their second year. With 20% 'off-the-job' hours (college and other study time), plus a work van and diesel that's a chunk for us when the person is not close to the level we'd hope.
All told, we would be better taking him full-time than take him on through his apprenticeship.
I've also said to the college that if we take him on, our contract with him would pull rank over any other training agreements and there was some resistance There are periods where apprentice funding is repayable, but we'd be doing them, and him a favour so they can bend a little if it happens.
Any help very welcome if anyone knows of such things or has an opinion.
Somebody else emailed me out of the blue to ask if we would take him on. He's in year 2 of the same apprenticeship and wasn't happy with his employer - felt he was being managed out. He had already handed in his notice before having a plan B. Apparently his college lecturer thought we would be a good fit (it's also in their interest to find him a new employer).
He's done a couple of trial days and is a nice enough lad, but not close to where we'd hope capability-wise in the second year of an apprenticeship. His work will have been a bit different and part of the problem was he was given a task and left to it, rather than properly learning on the job.
The internet (yeah I know!) seems to suggest he would start a new apprentice agreement with us as a new employer - this gives us a year at the apprentice rate (we pay ~20% above this). He seems to think we would take over his existing agreement and pay at least NMW as we do for our apprentices in their second year. With 20% 'off-the-job' hours (college and other study time), plus a work van and diesel that's a chunk for us when the person is not close to the level we'd hope.
All told, we would be better taking him full-time than take him on through his apprenticeship.
I've also said to the college that if we take him on, our contract with him would pull rank over any other training agreements and there was some resistance There are periods where apprentice funding is repayable, but we'd be doing them, and him a favour so they can bend a little if it happens.
Any help very welcome if anyone knows of such things or has an opinion.
I read that and see,
Being managed-out - euphemism for being told to pull his socks up\demand that he does his job?
Left without any plan - well, what can I say that needs said?
Not at the capability level you would expect and are presumably seeing in your other apprentice - taking on a liablity?
Expects to start from where he left off with the other employer for more money, despite the above - ability vs expectation gap?
I don't see what's in it for you. Sounds very much like he's washed-out from the other employer and the college are trying to find an alternate place by contacting every other apprentice's employer. Not him doing it, the college doing it for him.
Edit - I misread the OP, looks like they may be doing the legwork themselves, in which case strike the last one. I'd probably still turn them down at this stage, mostly for wanting Y2 money for sub-Y1 ability.
If it was me I'd be making polite noises about not having the budget to take him on, and if you do need another body, find another keen first year that you don't have to train the bad habits out of.
Being managed-out - euphemism for being told to pull his socks up\demand that he does his job?
Left without any plan - well, what can I say that needs said?
Not at the capability level you would expect and are presumably seeing in your other apprentice - taking on a liablity?
Expects to start from where he left off with the other employer for more money, despite the above - ability vs expectation gap?
I don't see what's in it for you. Sounds very much like he's washed-out from the other employer and the college are trying to find an alternate place by contacting every other apprentice's employer. Not him doing it, the college doing it for him.
Edit - I misread the OP, looks like they may be doing the legwork themselves, in which case strike the last one. I'd probably still turn them down at this stage, mostly for wanting Y2 money for sub-Y1 ability.
If it was me I'd be making polite noises about not having the budget to take him on, and if you do need another body, find another keen first year that you don't have to train the bad habits out of.
Edited by shtu on Friday 29th August 17:28
shtu said:
I read that and see,
Being managed-out - euphemism for being told to pull his socks up\demand that he does his job?
Left without any plan - well, what can I say that needs said?
Not at the capability level you would expect and are presumably seeing in your other apprentice - taking on a liablity?
Expects to start from where he left off with the other employer for more money, despite the above - ability vs expectation gap?
I don't see what's in it for you. Sounds very much like he's washed-out from the other employer and the college are trying to find an alternate place by contacting every other apprentice's employer. Not him doing it, the college doing it for him.
If it was me I'd be making polite noises about not having the budget to take him on, and if you do need another body, find another keen first year that you don't have to train the bad habits out of.
100% this. Being managed-out - euphemism for being told to pull his socks up\demand that he does his job?
Left without any plan - well, what can I say that needs said?
Not at the capability level you would expect and are presumably seeing in your other apprentice - taking on a liablity?
Expects to start from where he left off with the other employer for more money, despite the above - ability vs expectation gap?
I don't see what's in it for you. Sounds very much like he's washed-out from the other employer and the college are trying to find an alternate place by contacting every other apprentice's employer. Not him doing it, the college doing it for him.
If it was me I'd be making polite noises about not having the budget to take him on, and if you do need another body, find another keen first year that you don't have to train the bad habits out of.
I'm no expert on these matters but as an outsider looking at this i'm struggling to see why you would want to take him on as you have laid it out, are you struggling for staff so you need an extra person?
It strikes me if you were inclined to take him on he should be starting from the beginning again not making demands around how he wants to be taken on and pay in the circumstances
It strikes me if you were inclined to take him on he should be starting from the beginning again not making demands around how he wants to be taken on and pay in the circumstances
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