Advice on electrical installation apprenticeship
Discussion
This started when my girlfriend started doing odd jobs for a 'friend', in summer 2013, he owns and runs an electrical contractors. The work got more and more until I suggested she did it properly or not at all. She liked the work so decided to pursue the qualification. I am unsure what happened between summer and november 2013 as it seemed insignificant at the time.
In Nov 2013 she enrolled in an NVQ in electric installation at a local college, since then she has been working for, and I quote her, "£2 something an hour". Her employer is a total dick at work, bossing, shouting, not giving holidays etc. this is what I hear stories of anyway. She has put up with it in the hope of becoming an electrician with BAE, working in the aerospace industry.
Nothing is changing and after him demanding a sick note for a hospital appointment, me and her dad have unravelled this mess, it transpires she is indeed enrolled on an NVQ, starting September 2014, which explains why she has had no contact from college, and doesn't spend one day a week there. What does this mean in terms of pay, surely this means that for the past 4 months she has been on less than minimum wage, how do we go about claiming this back?
But it seems she hasn't signed an employment contract, or anything of the like. She is simply paid what seems to be a random amount into her bank at the end of the month.
I told her months ago after her saying what he's like to ring him and tell him you're not turning up on monday....but she carried on, hoping for it to lead to something bigger, but it isn't, and it needs to stop.
Sorry if this is confusing, it is for me! Feel free to ask for more info.
In Nov 2013 she enrolled in an NVQ in electric installation at a local college, since then she has been working for, and I quote her, "£2 something an hour". Her employer is a total dick at work, bossing, shouting, not giving holidays etc. this is what I hear stories of anyway. She has put up with it in the hope of becoming an electrician with BAE, working in the aerospace industry.
Nothing is changing and after him demanding a sick note for a hospital appointment, me and her dad have unravelled this mess, it transpires she is indeed enrolled on an NVQ, starting September 2014, which explains why she has had no contact from college, and doesn't spend one day a week there. What does this mean in terms of pay, surely this means that for the past 4 months she has been on less than minimum wage, how do we go about claiming this back?
But it seems she hasn't signed an employment contract, or anything of the like. She is simply paid what seems to be a random amount into her bank at the end of the month.
I told her months ago after her saying what he's like to ring him and tell him you're not turning up on monday....but she carried on, hoping for it to lead to something bigger, but it isn't, and it needs to stop.
Sorry if this is confusing, it is for me! Feel free to ask for more info.
There is a difference between the NVQ' and an apprenticeship. The NVQ is what is done in the workplace and assessed by the training officer when he or she visits. A typical apprenticeship is made up of this NVQ, a technical certificate such as the level two electrical maintenance course studied at college and the relevant maths and English functional skills.
The long and short of it is that she should be on minimum wage if not on an apprenticeship (she would have had to sign some paperwork if she is enrolled on the apprenticeship). At our college we would get in a lot of trouble if one of the employers we work with is employing somebody paying apprentice wages (£100 a week roughly) but we don't have them signed up.
My advice would be that if she likes the type of work but not the employer that she should approach the local college and see if they have any employers with vacancies. If they know anything about apprenticeships they will be very interested as there is a lot of funding at the moment for apprenticeships, especially electrical as it comes under the engineering sector,
To of interest how old is she? If she is over 19 then the funding halves, but its still worth their while.
The long and short of it is that she should be on minimum wage if not on an apprenticeship (she would have had to sign some paperwork if she is enrolled on the apprenticeship). At our college we would get in a lot of trouble if one of the employers we work with is employing somebody paying apprentice wages (£100 a week roughly) but we don't have them signed up.
My advice would be that if she likes the type of work but not the employer that she should approach the local college and see if they have any employers with vacancies. If they know anything about apprenticeships they will be very interested as there is a lot of funding at the moment for apprenticeships, especially electrical as it comes under the engineering sector,
To of interest how old is she? If she is over 19 then the funding halves, but its still worth their while.
Fair enough.
Her apprenticeship contract is with the training provider so she can always move to a different employer.
Interestingly her training officer should be visiting to check that her employer is treating her well!
Sadly while she is training the wages are going to be low, however in comparison to going to Uni she will finish in far less debt and some might say a lot more employable....
Her apprenticeship contract is with the training provider so she can always move to a different employer.
Interestingly her training officer should be visiting to check that her employer is treating her well!
Sadly while she is training the wages are going to be low, however in comparison to going to Uni she will finish in far less debt and some might say a lot more employable....
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