Is this right? Apprenticeship mini wage

millysg1

Hi,
For a job to pay the apprenticeship minimum wage does the apprenticeship job HAVE to involve a qualification or can it be for just earning experience on the job for first year.
Ive seen a job, not for me, that is advertising a waiter apprenticeship at £2.68 per hour but no formal qualification. 48 hours a week with evening and weekends. Sounds AWFUL at £2.68 an hour. This is for a fine dining establishment that charge a fair bit for not that amazing food, from my experience. Puts me off even more if I know my waiter would only be earning such a small amount, working so many hours.

http://www.gumtree.com/p/jobs/waiting-apprentice-at-dorsets-longest-standing-2-aa-rosette-restaurant/1067367408

bluenoseam

Far as I can see this post offers training, which I would guess would include day release at college with regards to hospitality training, now that's a fairly large guess, but not outwith the realms of possibility. I do agree however that it's more likely to be a "get the cheap labour in" effort which should not only be discouraged but be cracked down on.

What I will say is that a good waiter will never only earn £2.68 per hour, a good silver service waiter in a high class establishment will earn significantly more in tips.

Seanymph

I think the company has to be linked to an apprenticeship 'provider' and they also include some formal qualification.

Ask them? It's an easy way to learn.

Seanymph

Oh, and it depends on the establishment and how they handle 'tips' whether or not waiters boost their income that much...

My daughter is a waitress. One establishment keeps the tips - the manager SHOULD share them out at the end of the month, but staff think a lot go missing, and full time staff get more than part time staff - she ends up with very little no matter how many shifts she works.

The other shares them at the end of every shift, and the waitresses share with the chefs on shift that day (to be fair so they get money too). She doubles her wages there.

So different places have different 'policies' - it isn't guaranteed that tips and working hard will mean you get more money.

jobbingmusician

From https://www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide/applications-and-qualifications

Work and study

Apprenticeships combine practical training in a job with study.
An apprentice:

• works alongside experienced staff
• gains job-specific skills
• earns a wage
• studies towards a related qualification (usually 1 day a week)

If they are not studying, they are not an apprentice and cannot be paid apprenticeship min wage, is my understanding! I would report the employer (maybe to ACAS?)

saintjammyswine

An Apprenticeship must include a qualification and other elements.
Training must include
- workplace assessed element such as NVQ
- industry relevant taught element such as Diploma
- Maths & English where no recent evidence (eg GCSEs) is available
- Employee Rights & Responsibilities.

In this scenario, it would normally be

- NVQ Level 2 Diploma in Food Service

Also, the maximum hours including the training time is 40 hours for 16-19 and 48 for 19+.

I would say that this simply isnt an apprenticeship in any way and they need to be reported for breaching minimum wage rules.

millysg1

Thank you all for your replies. That is what I thought.