Sons new apprentiship....alarm bells ringing!

the_money_pit

Jules22 wrote: »

Just an update...

I havent rung the college, I took some of the advise on here a spoke to my son.
He has since spoken to work and college and they have allayed any fears.

Just for the record I dont suffocate my kids, I do push them to be independant adults and all I can do is advise- its up to them to take it or leave it.

Just read this post and as ever I'm astounded how many people on this site cant wait to put the boot in as soon as a question is asked!!!!
To OP, my 19yr old also started a "real" apprenticeship in engineering last month. Same scenario as yours, no induction, no safety advice, cash in hand - less than agreed and generally a ver dodgy set up. I contacted the college, who did not question my involvement, the tutor did a visit to the placement and my son was removed from the placement next day due to concerns of safety, insurance, non compliance of employer etc.
He is now waiting for a new placement allocation and is confident that it will be sorted for September.
Like you I am not a smothering mum, just one with common sense and a gut feeling for things not quite right. Hope things work out for you.

Caroline_a

I contacted the college, who did not question my involvement,

No, they wouldn't have done to you, same as the parents who contacted me. However, the youngsters I dealt with were between 16 and 18, so still technically minors. Your son, as the OP's, is an adult. How much better for your son would it have been had he done it for himself? I believe that young adults should be given the opportunity to find things out for themselves, otherwise when you are not around who will do it for them? 19 is pretty old to have your mum making phonecalls for you.

saintjammyswine

Dawning wrote: »

Actually I agree with most of what Vax2002 wrote.
I am in HR with a construction company and agree that there are 'real' apprenticeships out there. We tend to refer to them as Traditional Apprenticeships. The aim is that the young person can go to college one or two days a week, and works on site the rest of the time, by the end of the apprenticeship they will be a qualified tradesperson.
It's nothing like a Work Experience scheme, for example.
Assuming it is a genuine apprenticeship run by eg CITB, then OP's son is very luck to have found the opportunity. We have had to stop recruiting on our apprenticeship schemes due to the current climate.

All of that said, I am very concerned that the employer is paying cash in hand without a payslip. It should be noted that companies do get a grant under some circumstances when they take on an apprentice.

OK, there are are traditional apprenticeship trades, we get that. Do we develop formal training routes in other areas or simply let anything that doesnt involve a tool box be left behind? Apprenticeships are great things when done right and benefit apprentice and employer. Done badly, it doesnt matter what industry it is in, it will be dross and not benefit anyone. Apprenticeships that are glorified work experience are of no use to man nor beast and so that is why short apprenticeships are being stopped, to stop bad providers churning out customer service in 3 months (as an example).

Wyndham

Colleges that discuss 19 year old students with their mothers are breaking the data protection act. This is illegal, and your son could complain that it has happened. They can discuss general cases, but should not be discussing specifics.

There are exceptions around vulnerable adults, but generally 19 year olds with mothers are not classed as vulnerable.

vax2002

2 obvious Clans here
1 that thinks your son should get his head down, work hard and learn the trade and stand on his own 2 feet in life and take home a living wage.
And the second is obviously the scroungers life owes us a living brigade "that sounds like a Dickens novel", yes it might do, hard work never sounds good when you get money from those who do it given free to live off.

Support the lad, help him get stuck in and whilst his mates are still getting bits of paper and useless degrees in useless subjects, your lad will be bringing in a living wage and have a trade under his belt.