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Half of apprentices dumped by construction firms
bo_drinker
Posts: 3,924 Forumite
Half of apprentices dumped by building firms - Exclusive
Half of all apprentices in the crisis-hit building industry have been axed this year.
More than 100 every week have been dumped as recession-ravaged firms laid off thousands.
The youngest and lowest-paid workers have borne the brunt as construction projects were slashed.
Those learning traditional trades such as carpentry, joinery and bricklaying have been among the first to go in the jobs cull.
One in five training to be painters and decorators has been sacked.
Union leaders last night called for urgent government action. TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: "It's vital the Government steps in and uses big building projects like the Olympics and Crossrail to give a boost to young apprentices."
Training group ConstructionSkills manager Nigel Donohue said: "The construction sector risks the continuation of skills shortages that have plagued the industry since the last recession.
"We need more employers who have the capacity to offer training opportunities to these youngsters."
Figures reveal 16 to 18-year-old trainees, some paid as little as £80 a week, have been hardest-hit by the downturn and are struggling to find work.
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A total of 3,500 lost their apprenticeships out of 7,637.
ConstructionSkills said of the 2,342 "displaced" apprentices referred to them, only 711 have been found new employers in the construction industry.
The organisation said if skills are lost the nation will be poorly placed to take advantage of a recovery.
Of the 6,845 youngsters who applied for construction industry apprenticeships last year, only 1,880 were offered places.
Gordon Brown pledged £140million for an extra 35,000 apprenticeships earlier this year.
Last night construction minister Ian Lucas said: "The Prime Minister has announced targeted investment worth £1.5billion to deliver 20,000 new affordable homes creating 45,000 jobs in the construction and related sectors.'' Building union UCATT's Alan Ritchie said: "Displaced apprentices should be given opportunities to fill roles in public sector construction."
CASE STUDY STEPHANIE
Shields was halfway through year two of an apprenticeship in painting and decorating when her employer had to let her go.
She was out of work for nearly three months but continued her studies unpaid before ConstructionSkills matched her with a new employer close to her home in Blackpool.
Stephanie, 22, said: "The 10 or 11 weeks out of work were horrible. I didn't know what I was going to do or where the money would come from.'' Her determination paid off and she came top in her category in the North West heat of a skills competition.
Half of all apprentices in the crisis-hit building industry have been axed this year.
More than 100 every week have been dumped as recession-ravaged firms laid off thousands.
The youngest and lowest-paid workers have borne the brunt as construction projects were slashed.
Those learning traditional trades such as carpentry, joinery and bricklaying have been among the first to go in the jobs cull.
One in five training to be painters and decorators has been sacked.
Union leaders last night called for urgent government action. TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: "It's vital the Government steps in and uses big building projects like the Olympics and Crossrail to give a boost to young apprentices."
Training group ConstructionSkills manager Nigel Donohue said: "The construction sector risks the continuation of skills shortages that have plagued the industry since the last recession.
"We need more employers who have the capacity to offer training opportunities to these youngsters."
Figures reveal 16 to 18-year-old trainees, some paid as little as £80 a week, have been hardest-hit by the downturn and are struggling to find work.
Advertisement - article continues below »
A total of 3,500 lost their apprenticeships out of 7,637.
ConstructionSkills said of the 2,342 "displaced" apprentices referred to them, only 711 have been found new employers in the construction industry.
The organisation said if skills are lost the nation will be poorly placed to take advantage of a recovery.
Of the 6,845 youngsters who applied for construction industry apprenticeships last year, only 1,880 were offered places.
Gordon Brown pledged £140million for an extra 35,000 apprenticeships earlier this year.
Last night construction minister Ian Lucas said: "The Prime Minister has announced targeted investment worth £1.5billion to deliver 20,000 new affordable homes creating 45,000 jobs in the construction and related sectors.'' Building union UCATT's Alan Ritchie said: "Displaced apprentices should be given opportunities to fill roles in public sector construction."
CASE STUDY STEPHANIE
Shields was halfway through year two of an apprenticeship in painting and decorating when her employer had to let her go.
She was out of work for nearly three months but continued her studies unpaid before ConstructionSkills matched her with a new employer close to her home in Blackpool.
Stephanie, 22, said: "The 10 or 11 weeks out of work were horrible. I didn't know what I was going to do or where the money would come from.'' Her determination paid off and she came top in her category in the North West heat of a skills competition.
I came in to this world with nothing and I've still got most of it left. :rolleyes:
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Comments
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Sorry but this is a real bone of contention with us. We asked for help numerous times off of CITB and got nowhere. We then had to pay off our apprentice due to lack of work. We then got a letter from the CITB saying that they would give us a grant for 6 months if we took on a redundant apprentice! OMG I get soooooo frustrated as to how this government works! Needless to say they got a cheeky letter sent back to them. We have said that we will never take on another apprentice (unless it is family) due to the lack of help from them. It has really put us off and the guilt we felt at paying the boy off was unbelievable.0
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Very sad, but people are disposable and dispensable to this govt.
It's always the weak and powerless who will suffer.
We certainly don't have a government for the people.0 -
thriftybabe wrote: »Sorry but this is a real bone of contention with us. We asked for help numerous times off of CITB and got nowhere. We then had to pay off our apprentice due to lack of work. We then got a letter from the CITB saying that they would give us a grant for 6 months if we took on a redundant apprentice! OMG I get soooooo frustrated as to how this government works! Needless to say they got a cheeky letter sent back to them. We have said that we will never take on another apprentice (unless it is family) due to the lack of help from them. It has really put us off and the guilt we felt at paying the boy off was unbelievable.
Why didn't you take him back on ? I know a guy who was released as an apprentice from a Football club in the 80's, I think Maggie then brought in YTS and they offered him this option, he won a FA cup final medal within 18 months.'Just think for a moment what a prospect that is. A single market without barriers visible or invisible giving you direct and unhindered access to the purchasing power of over 300 million of the worlds wealthiest and most prosperous people' Margaret Thatcher0 -
Why didn't you take him back on ?
Quite often, any sort of scheme will involve hoop jumping. e.g. perhaps eligible apprentices would have had to have been signing on for 6 months or more and been on a Back to Work training jolly for team building skills.
The Govt are crazy like that.0 -
What can be done, if there is a lesser demand then jobs have to be cut, same as any other industry. Sadly the least experienced are more disposable.0
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PasturesNew wrote: »Quite often, any sort of scheme will involve hoop jumping. e.g. perhaps eligible apprentices would have had to have been signing on for 6 months or more and been on a Back to Work training jolly for team building skills.
The Govt are crazy like that.
They had so many on their list I assuming it was them that had to pick who it was we took on. The other problem is there is no consistency of work. We have bits and bobs but there are weeks that there is absolutely nothing.0 -
coffee_prince wrote: »What can be done, if there is a lesser demand then jobs have to be cut, same as any other industry. Sadly the least experienced are more disposable.
The other problem is the high wages! These boys are not able to work on their own without supervision and in their 4th year they are being paid £370 per week!:eek: That is really hard on business especially at this time when Construction staff are desperate for work and fully qualified men will work for that amount!0 -
My nephew was let go from his apprenticeship last week (first year apprentice). Its really bad out there.Please stay safe in the sun and learn the A-E of melanoma: A = asymmetry, B = irregular borders, C= different colours, D= diameter, larger than 6mm, E = evolving, is your mole changing? Most moles are not cancerous, any doubts, please check next time you visit your GP.
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vivatifosi wrote: »My nephew was let go from his apprenticeship last week (first year apprentice). Its really bad out there.
It is easier to employ foreigners that already have the skills.Favourite hobbies: Watersports. Relaxing in Coffee Shop. Investing in stocks.
Personality type: Compassionate Male Armadillo. Sockies: None.0 -
vivatifosi wrote: »My nephew was let go from his apprenticeship last week (first year apprentice). Its really bad out there.
Interesting point Viva...
People say it is getting better, we're nearly through it.
I worry there is yet more bad staff to come...It's getting harder & harder to keep the government in the manner to which they have become accustomed.0
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