would my wage remain the same or drop if i do an apprenticeship in my current job?

loulou123

Quick question....

I work in care, local college have offered me the chance to do a apprenticeship in care (enabling me to get my dipolma level 3 health and social care as part of it)

I would be doing this at my normal job (to get qualifications to match my experiance.)

My question is I know apprenticeship min wage is low, but would my employer be allowed to drop my salary to this (whilst on apprenticeship) or would my salary remain the same as it is now? As I would still be doing same job and hours.... I have tried to Google it but can't find out!

So has anyone else started a apprenticeship in their current workplace?

gibson123

Your wage would stay the same. There are two parts to an apprenticeship - there is an apprenticeship post (job) and there is the apprenticeship qualification. You must be employed to complete an apprenticeship qualification, (perhaps not in England!!), however you do not have to be employed AS an apprentice. I have put a number of non-apprentices through their apprenticeship qualifications.

loulou123

Thank you that's pretty much what the college said when I asked them, but they were a bit more "hmmm I'd have thought it'd stay the same" so I wanted to confirm this was the case.

gibson123

If your work gets weird about it, just point out that these qualifications are likely to become mandatory for social care posts in future and that you are potentially saving them the several thousands pounds it would cost to get you qualified at some future date.