Apprentiship and travel to college costs?

tillycat123

My son has been offered an apprenticeship that is with a company just 2 miles away, however they will be covering the college part through a college that is 40 miles away and its 1 day a week.

There is no train route, and the bus route takes an unbelievable 3 hours with changes. Hes not driving yet.

I've called a couple of taxi firms and they have said £45 - £50 each way.

Hes going to contact the company tomorrow to let them know this is a real issue for him accepting unless they can help cover the taxi cost to get there hes going to have to turn it down.

It is a very large company, are they likely to cover such a huge cost? He can but ask was my feeling. Anyone with travel cost reimbursement experience?

I've looked up possible bursaries and on financial grounds I can't see he can get help and bank of mum and dad can't cover this off. They have not run an apprenticeship apparently for 10 years and I guess that was probably all in house back then.

Many thanks for any advice.

custardy

Im sorry but you expect a company to pay £100 a week for travel?
I think a bus and a good book(s) is the realistic answer.

phill99

I must confess, if I was your sons employer and wss being asked for £100 a week in taxi fares, I would have to question his commitment. They are making an investment in your son, so the least he could do is be put out a bit by getting a bus.

bluenoseam

3 hours total or 3 hours each way? If it's total then here's a short, sharp shock, that's the expectation of any new job seeker is to travel within 90 minutes each way! If it's 3 hours each way then clearly that's bordering on unreasonable.

comeandgo

What we do with our apprentices is they get the bus fare, if they want a taxi they pay the difference themselves.

KarlF

Aren't there any colleges closer to home that do the same course? The college the employer has chosen may have been the one that has traditionally been used in the past, and they may be unaware of any courses offered more locally.

It may be worth doing some leg work, and offering a more sensible solution for everyone.

shortcrust

Three hours each way once a week isn't fun but it isn't wildly unreasonable. I'd take a really dim view of someone asking for £100 for a taxi in that situation.

Topcat1982

How are the other kids getting there?

tillycat123

Thanks for the replies appreciated.

The bus journey of almost 3 hours is each way. The head office of this company is in the same county as the college however the site he would be based at is not, someone hasn't really thought the college location through which is a real shame. It's just 1 position they are taking on.

Savvy_Sue

What are the roads like? If he's old enough and sensible enough, then is a small motor bike an option?

I don't know how much the bus fare is, but travelling the night before and staying in a cheap b&b might work out more economical ...

BlueEyedGirl

3 hours by bus is not unrealistic. I travelled to college on 4 buses (4 there and 4 back) 5 days a week, covered the cost myself and just got on with it! The journey use to take me just over 3 hours. An iPod, a good book and a cup of coffee got me through it. What use to make me mad was the fact I travelled from so far, yet people living around the corner form the college struggled to get in on time!