Can I apply for an apprenticeship when I'm already on one?

BaldPatch

Hello,

I've been browsing through job vacancies and came across an apprenticeship that is in my local area and has really caught my interest.
Trouble is, I'm already on an apprenticeship which started about a month ago (though not enrolled on the college course yet).

Do you think I can apply for this new apprenticeship or am I no longer eligible to apply for any apprenticeships?

jacques_chirac

As you have not started your course you will be eligible, however I would be surprised if the new employer would want to take you on given your lack of commitment.

BaldPatch

True but I'd hope to be able to explain that I didn't really understand what an apprenticeship was until it was too late and that it was recommended to me like an ordinary job where you could continue job searching if you didn't like it.

I just hope that I manage to get something before I am enrolled onto the college course, otherwise it seems like you have more options open to you when you're unemployed!

BaldPatch

Sorry for the double post but I've just been thinking about what the best thing to do would be if I'm unable to find employment before the college course start date, which I don't yet know of and could be quite soon.

If this were a normal job, I wouldn't let my employer know that I was applying for other jobs until I had an offer I'd accepted.
However, as this is an apprenticeship, I'm not sure what the best to do would be.
Do I keep quiet and let them enrol me knowing that I'm likely to leave for another job before the course finishes?
Or should I let them know and risk being unemployed until I find something else?

Thanks for any replies.

[Deleted User]

I'm not sure how all apprenticeships work but I have a family member in some form of apprenticeship and I believe her contract stipulates that if she quits prior to completion then she must repay the cost of the education. Do you have a copy of your contract? Make sure this is not the case with your arrangement and if it is, let them know prior to them enrolling you in the course.

BaldPatch

Thanks for the advice, whilst I started the work side of the apprenticeship about a month ago I don't believe I have the official contract yet. I will make sure that there is no penalty for leaving early before signing it.

casparg44

Firstly do you have a contract of employment? It is a requirement that your employer gives you one when you are an apprentice and this will require you to give notice, probably for a week.

You can apply for another apprenticeship position regardless of whether you have started training or not, as the training provider delivering the apprenticeship should transfer you and follow you to your new place of work. many don't BTW and are not obliged to but if its local they should as you and your learning is their responsibility.
They wont necessarily be able to follow you if the apprenticeship you want to change to is in a different subject.

What apprenticeship are you about to start and what do you want to do?

You have only started an apprenticeship if you have signed up to the training course.

You also need to consider if your employer has paid for your training and if your contract states you are liable for this.

Unless you want to change entirely ie: from hairdressing to engineering and only want to change employers but remain on the same apprenticeship course its probably best to stick with it.

BaldPatch

No I don't yet have my contract of employment.

The apprenticeship role is 'Office Junior' and the course I'm about to start as part of it is Business Administration NVQ Level 2. The type of thing I would like to do is working in a warehouse and/or logistics and there are currently three warehouse apprenticeship vacancies in my local area which I'm interested in applying for.

Although I can't be certain I don't think my employer has paid for my training yet as I haven't received my contract or given details to a college yet.

casparg44

You are on the wrong apprenticeship for your long term goals and quite frankly this should have been identified earlier.

As you haven't started on the apprenticeship, or signed up to any training nor made any commitment in terms of a contract of employment you should definitely apply for and move to another apprenticeship you are happy with.

This highlights to me why on earth are you on an apprenticeship in admin when you want to do warehousing- I blame a lack of careers guidance out there.

Anyhow, there is nothing tying you to this business admin apprentice. Also when you do start your new apprenticeship, please stick with it as if you start to move around a lot you will get a bad reputation and wont been seen favorably with training providers or employers trying to support you.

You must ensure that the apprenticeship you begin is the right one for your longer term goal and career aspirations.

Good luck let us know how you get on!

saintjammyswine

Totally agree with caparg44 above, there has been a complete breakdown in IAG here. As well as changing your apprenticeship, you should also speak to the IAG team at the college to make sure it is the right move for you.

BaldPatch

Thanks casparg44 & saintjammyswine, it was actually today that I was meant to enrol onto my business admin course but I managed to delay it after discussing the concerns with my employer a few days ago. They kindly agreed to give me a few extra days to think about it before making a decision, which I will have to make soon. Obviously if I say that I don't want to enrol on the course then I can't just stick around until I have something else, I would be expected to leave.

I definitely want to go into warehousing long term and so have now applied for the warehouse apprenticeship vacancies. These vacancies are quite new though so I'm unlikely to get any response for at least a couple of weeks.

If I am eventually lucky enough to receive an offer for a warehouse apprenticeship I would definitely stick with it as I now know far more about apprenticeships in general and warehousing is what I'm interested in.

saintjammyswine - I'm not sure if it would be the same college/learning provider though, should I still ask?

Thanks again.