PLEASE HELP Apprenticeship terminated 3 weeks in

mikeassured

Hi

I don't know if anyone can give me any advice.

My 17 year old son was in sixth form doing AS levels up until a few weeks ago. He had uploaded a CV to myfirstjob as he was interested in finding a business/admin apprenticeship.

He was contacted by a training provider who had a local, well established company looking for an apprentice. He was interviewed by the Director and was offered the job. It was a 12 month apprenticeship with training to NVQ level 2/3.

In his second week, the Director called a meeting for the four apprentices and told them that he had heard the training provider was possibly going to have their funding cut, but he wouldn't "drop them in it" and would continue to keep them on.

Yesterday, at the end of his third week, he was informed by a colleague (no manager or anyone of seniority) that his apprenticeship was being immediately terminated because he was "under performing". He was gob smacked because he had been paid a bonus that week for performing well!! He asked to speak to someone with some seniority, but everyone had gone home.

He is now left in limbo. He has missed 3 to 4 weeks of school, AS level exams are imminent so can't realistically go back, he can't enrol at college until September and has no qualifications to find another office job. I have cancelled Child Benefit and Tax Credits and can't get them reinstated as he won't be in full time education.

He and I are at our wits end what to do

Any suggestions or advice gratefully received.

Thanks

comeandgo

Has he anything in writing? Could the colleague been having a bit if a joke with a young apprentice? You need definite info from someone in authority.

mikeassured

Hi

No, nothing in writing formally yet.

He did email the Director asking for a meeting. He replied saying his team leader had informed him yesterday he was dismissed, but didn't know the details and he would let him know exactly why on Monday.

PlymouthMaid

Can you not ask the training provider what is going on as they have a contract and a relationship with the company? Ideally your son should contact his assessor at the training provider directly as it is your son's Apprenticeship but many will talk directly with parents. I work for a training provider and if a young person is out of placement we will help them to find another position to continue their course. It seems a shame that your son left school only a short time before his exams as an Apprenticeship would still be available to him after that. I wonder if he could go back to school as he has only missed 3 weeks hasn't he?

Elfbert

My OH works for a training co.

He said that it's unfortunate that your son signed up - recruitment agencies/training providers shouldn't really deal with people already in full time education.

Having said that, as it was your son's choice to do the Apprenticeship, not continue with his A-levels, there's nothing to be done about it now.

Business/Admin is one of the easiest placements to find, so definitely find out who his training provider is and ask if they have any other placements in the area. My OH has re-placed a number of learners who have, for many reasons, been unable to continue a placement at a certain firm.

This employer seems to have treated you son very unfairly (this is all supposing he is telling you the full story!) but I don't believe there's anything that can be done about it, as he has virtually no rights during his probationary period

Good luck to him in finding another placement.

Person_one

mikeassured wrote: »

Hi

He is now left in limbo. He has missed 3 to 4 weeks of school, AS level exams are imminent so can't realistically go back, he can't enrol at college until September and has no qualifications to find another office job.

Thanks

What makes you think he can't go back to school? Has he contacted them? Pupils can miss 4 weeks easily due to illness or injury and manage to make up the work, or do an extra year if needed.

It seems like getting back to school asap would be for the best while he considers what he really wants to do. If his school hasn't yet broken up for the Easter hols, I'd be advising him to be there first thing on Monday morning to talk to the head of sixth form.

theoretica

I suggest you also contact his old school first thing on Monday. Missing 3-4 weeks is far from ideal but probaby still worth studying hard and sitting the exams if this can't be promptly sorted out otherwise.

saintjammyswine

Regarding going back to college, was his training provider a college or private organisation?

I ask as he may be able to go to college full time to study the taught element of his apprenticeship.

Also, it is quite common for learners to move from a full time course to a relevant apprenticeship in the same vocational area, especially when the training provider is the same college, they stay on the same course, just day release, not full time. It is more unusual for someone to leave academic A/AS levels although not unheard of. HE needs to contact the school/college and find out his options there, also, contact NAtional Apprenticeship Service for advice.