Adult Apprenticeships

DCFC79

Zazen999 wrote: »

It doesn't.

The problem is that employers aren't willing to pay higher wages to someone who is an 'apprentice', as they lose them for a day a week or on block release.....and the training itself has to be paid for [usually by the employer - see my later point] - but adults need higher wages to pay more bills than a 16-18 yr old. So, because hardly any employers take up the opportunity, colleges can't put a whole class of students together to get the funding and thus; won't fund it. Adults learn at different rates and have a different work ethic than teenagers; so the colleges don't like mixing them.

It's a bit of a vicious circle; nobody says that they AREN'T available but nobody actually sorts out the funding and it is a whole lot easier to stick a class of 16-18 yr olds together that tick all the boxes than try and recruit a class full of adult apprentices.

yes i see your point, thanks,

these vicious circles

Fruitloops

Sorry for the delay and thank you to you all for all your help and advice

I'm so frustrated with this whole thing but I'm still looking into it.

I wondered if someone could tell me... it seems that I can apply for apprenticeships but there will be no funding for me because I'm over 24. So I obviously would have to find my own funding. My question is... can I get any help for this from elsewhere? I know that may be a silly question, I'm just trying to explore all my options. If I have to fund myself, what cost are we talking here?

Thanks again.

hellokitty08

That depends fruity, you will have to ask your local college, we are charging £1000. But it will vary by college, by course and by how many people they already have on the programme e.g a programme of 15 electricans aged 16-18 is going to attreact full governement funding, so adding one adult means its not really costing the college any extra, so they would make a nominal charge to you. Now if they only have people aged 20+ who want to study on the programme, they are going to get less funding and therefore are going to want more money from you.

I am pretty certain you cant get funding from anywhere else for it, otherwise we would be offering that. But if you find something different, then let me know!

Fruitloops

hellokitty08 wrote: »

That depends fruity, you will have to ask your local college, we are charging £1000. But it will vary by college, by course and by how many people they already have on the programme e.g a programme of 15 electricans aged 16-18 is going to attreact full governement funding, so adding one adult means its not really costing the college any extra, so they would make a nominal charge to you. Now if they only have people aged 20+ who want to study on the programme, they are going to get less funding and therefore are going to want more money from you.

I am pretty certain you cant get funding from anywhere else for it, otherwise we would be offering that. But if you find something different, then let me know!

Thanks kitty you're very helpful!

Another question for you! There's the £95 a week that apprentices get right? Would I get that even if I was funding myself? Or is that all tied up in the funding?

Hope that made sense

Fruitloops

Bumping to find kitty!

hellokitty08

im back! hehehe

As of the 1st August 2009 the minimum wage for apprentices increased, meaning all apprentices are now entitled to a minimum pay of £95 a week.

Apprentice under the age of 19 are not entitled to the NMW. If you are an apprentice aged 19 and over and you are still in the first year of your apprenticeship you are also not entitled to the NMW, however once you have completed your apprenticeship or if you are 19 and over once you have completed a year you are entitled to the NMW.

So regardless of age you could still be paid £95 a week for the first year of your apprenticeship training. (This must be a registered apprenticeship programme, not just an NVQ) However a company would have to be pretty mean to make you pay for your training and only pay you £95 a week. Wouldnt surprise me though.

However you must remember your employer needs to support you on the apprenticeship programme, so you must be employed in a relevant trade.

This £95 a week is paid by the employer and is your wages so I failry sure that even if you were self fudning the course they would still be able to pay you this.

Fruitloops

Thanks kitty! you're a star. Right... off to see if someone will employ me if I fund myself!

sarah645

hellokitty08 i have a question for you im currently an apprentice im 24 now and my apprenticeship contract runs out a day or two before my birthday which is in a couple of months, my position at work doesnt seem to be assured erm i guess my question is can i do another years apprenticeship as im nearly 25 at the 2.50 an hour rate? i heard the cut off age is 25 and im a bit confused i really dont want to leave my job i love it there and id really like to go on to level 3 nvq.

saintjammyswine

Fruitloops wrote: »

Sorry for the delay and thank you to you all for all your help and advice

I'm so frustrated with this whole thing but I'm still looking into it.

I wondered if someone could tell me... it seems that I can apply for apprenticeships but there will be no funding for me because I'm over 24. So I obviously would have to find my own funding. My question is... can I get any help for this from elsewhere? I know that may be a silly question, I'm just trying to explore all my options. If I have to fund myself, what cost are we talking here?

Thanks again.

An apprentice will never pay for their own training, regardless of age. Any fees to be paid will always be met by the employer, it is part of the agreement.

saintjammyswine

sarah645 wrote: »

hellokitty08 i have a question for you im currently an apprentice im 24 now and my apprenticeship contract runs out a day or two before my birthday which is in a couple of months, my position at work doesnt seem to be assured erm i guess my question is can i do another years apprenticeship as im nearly 25 at the 2.50 an hour rate? i heard the cut off age is 25 and im a bit confused i really dont want to leave my job i love it there and id really like to go on to level 3 nvq.

There is no age limit for an apprenticeship. I assume you have completed a Level 2 course within your apprenticeship and so yes, in theory you can progress onto an advanced apprenticeship to do the level 3. You will have to find an employer if your current one is not willing/able to continue supporting you.