Low Paid Apprentice

[Spydaman]

My son has been offered an apprenticship to become an outdoor sports instructor at the local college. He already has an NVQ3 from the same college and works there part time as an instructor earning reasonable money. Problem is the apprenticeship only pays £7k and is full time with normal benefits. Question is can he get some help from the government to top up his salary or do I have to help him. He's also been offered a ski season as a guide/rep. He's 20 btw.

[speedyman]

When I did my apprenticeship the employer paid all college expences for me and I got a relative low wage for four years. I did not get any external grants. It was a long time ago though, ask the college.

An apprenticeship should be a trade off between learning a trade from a qualified party and is usually at a lower pay level with higher rewards later after qualifying. Worked for me that way.

Speedyman

Edited by speedyman on Thursday 21st October 10:23

[Spydaman]

Thought so. Although when I did my apprenticeship 30 years ago I was paid 80% of a skilled mans wage. About £18 if I recall correctly.

[Tonberry]

The Government won't help him but then again why should they?

Tell him to suck it up. Hopefully it will pay off in the long run.

I'm guessing he lives at home with you? Why do you need to support him? Tell him to get a part time job.

This post may come across as a little harsh, but believe me - I know exactly where you are coming from. Things should get better.

[XDA]

£7000 a year apprentice wage? Im sorry but I think he should be grateful for that.

I did my IT apprenticeship back in 2004 and I was only paid £4800 a year.

[Sammo123]

That seems pretty good for an apprentice. I was an apprentice mechanic in 2004-2006 and was on about 5k a year.

I had to take up an evening job delivering chinese food so that I actually had some money each week.

If he is that desperate for money then he will have to get an evening job. Tis the only way

[GarryA]

In 1998 I got paid 2.35 / hr 40hrs a week with option of four hours o/t on a saturday morning.

[Diablos-666]

That seems low to mr.

I done a mechanical engineering apprenticeship about 6 years ago. The first year I was paid ~£10k
Second year ~£12k
Third year ~£15k
Forth year ~£20k
Then when qualified I was offered £26k

The Gov won't help with his wage but will contribute to his training up to a certain age.

[Martial Arts Man]

I've just taken on one apprentice and am in the process of acquiring a couple more.

The government peeps one has to go through mention, in every single sentance, that they only have to be paid £82 per week or something like that.

I pay mine more but at the end of the day, if I had to pay 17year old trainees a proper wage, they wouldn't have a job. In a year or two, they will be skilled employees who will be able to command a decent wage.

I take the risk that they end up being useless and also have to spend enormous time and energy on the training process. The apprentice learns what real life is about and after two years, assuming they complete the course, a career.

Doesn't seem a bad deal to me.

[hairyben]

Same here, £3,399 P.A. as an apprentice sparky in 96.

Presumably the money improves a fair bit in the 2nd/3rd/however many years as he takes on more responsibilities?

Look at it as aquiring a decent skill while being paid a "live at home" allowance- as opposed to the costs and debts of uni/degree...

[Scraggles]

seems generous with the recession and all that, the lad is at home so no rent or food costs to worry about, gets some good skills in a few years, or goto uni and get a nice £30k debt

easy choice really

[DocJock]

It's well above the minimum wage for an apprentice.

As of this month it is £2.50/hr, or roughly £5K pa.

[Spydaman]

Thanks for the opinions which have confirmed its the best option for him. He's accepted the offer of an apprenticeship and turned down the ski season. They still want him to work peak weeks so not all bad.

[MG CHRIS]

That seems to be right iam a apprentice mechanic in my second year, first year on £75 a week which if just under £4000, was hard to live on and with learning to drive half my wage was gone every week, now in my second year on £110 per week which is around £5500 a year as i do a fare bit of work. next year will be on £140 per week which is around £7000 but at least i am earning money and learning at the same time where other friends are in colege full time dont have jobs and have money from parents and want to go to uni where they will get £30,000 in debt so it looks like a better option to me. Put up with it for a couple of years and you will have a good paid job after it.

[69 coupe]

How long are modern apprenticeships?

In my day minimum 3 years; average 4 or 5 via day or block release with proper on the job training. I hope new apprenticeships don't go the way of Labour Universities, IE devalued.

[Merp]

My apprenticeship was advanced modern which lasted 4 years

Yr1 8k full time at college
Yr2 13k day release at college
Yr3 16k day release at college
Yr4 22k day release at college
Started at 16, at a High Horse Power engine facility and im still there.

It's always going to be low paid for the first year I believe it's funded by the government through the company anyway.