Apprenticeships

Denno666

I have been told by my adviser at the Jobcentre that, (at 24yrs and with a degree), I should apply for an apprenticeship.
I applied for one a year ago only to be told that as I have a degree, I am not eligible.

Can anybody clarify whether having a degree means you can't apply for one? I could understand if that was so as there are only a limited number of places, but I can't find any reference to it anywhere. The Government web site even says that 'Anyone aged 16 or over and not in full-time education can apply for an apprenticeship.'

hellokitty08

You are deemed ineligable for apprenticeship funding. What this means is that if you want to complete an apprenticeship training programme, the course is not funded by the government.

Therefore you would have a couple of options, find an employer who would be willing to pay the cost of the course, usually at least £1,000, or self fund, which probably isnt an option.

Your only not eligable because of funding. It you can find some way of funding the course you can complete it.

(apprenticeship advisor)

hellokitty08

Denno666 wrote: »

Government web site even says that 'Anyone aged 16 or over and not in full-time education can apply for an apprenticeship.'

That is true anyone can apply, however only candidates aged 16-18 get their training fees fully funded, anyone aged 19+ gets 50% of their course funded. Anyone who has a degree gets 0 funding.

Also you have to have been a UK resident or resident of a EU member country for at least 3 years too.

saintjammyswine

^^^^^

Correct advice. You can be an apprentice but it wont be funded by the government. Not unusual for an employer to pay for an apprenticeship because they value the skills and qualifications you get.

hellokitty08

Not unusual no, rare, yes! I have one out of 100 learners, but he was already employed by his company before they put him on apprenticeship training, so he wasnt applying for an apprenticeship vacancy when he was hired.

spacey2012

There is no course, it is the youth opportunity scheme re-heated from the last Tory government.
One huge scam to supply sub minium wage labour to business chums.
They hijacked the old term of apprenticeship to give it credibility the majority of the labour requires less than a few hours instruction with modules made up of silly health and safety and written tasking of menial tasks.
Look for a real job, forget the degree the days where they had any worth are long gone bar a few subjects.

saintjammyswine

Agree it is normally previous employees that the employer values and is willing to invest in.

By the way you may want to add an s to your signature

"tarted?"

saintjammyswine

spacey2012 wrote: »

There is no course, it is the youth opportunity scheme re-heated from the last Tory government.
One huge scam to supply sub minium wage labour to business chums.
They hijacked the old term of apprenticeship to give it credibility the majority of the labour requires less than a few hours instruction with modules made up of silly health and safety and written tasking of menial tasks.
Look for a real job, forget the degree the days where they had any worth are long gone bar a few subjects.

Right, whatever thanks for the input.

So a degree is no good.

An apprenticeship is no good.

What do you suggest?

spacey2012

I suggest you look for a paid job, any job thinking that normal work is beneath you because you have a degree is living in cloud cuckoo world.
Get a job, whilst working apply for other jobs, better jobs, no employer wants a fresher who has been unemployed since uni with no work skills and any job on your cv with good attendance records puts you higher in the cv pile.
A degree shows and emloyer you can remember what you read in books, a work record shows them you have the life skills to apply yourself to tasks.
Find work, any work and get yourself on the field with your boots on.

saintjammyswine

Did you read OP, spacey2012?

OP is looking for a job and was advised at JCP to apply for an apprenticeship.

Sounds like someone who wishes they went to Uni or did & failed being bitter to me. But hey, that's my opinion and dont want to hi-jack someone else's thread.

Denno666

Thanks for the feedback everyone - some interesting comments! BTW, I am looking for a paid job and don't think that 'normal' work is beneath me. Granted, degrees seem to have less worth than they did once, but I 'm applying for shop work, admin work, garden centres, etc., basically anything that my disability will allow me to do. Although undeniably expensive, my degree did give me my confidence back and the fact that I got it despite my illness means a lot to me. And 'get a job' is easier said than done. I've had one job for 7 months since uni and have been looking since November for another.