FDM question

curious_1

Morning guys,

Please, I've come to ask for advise about a company/agency called FDM.

I've been given a place to start with them, but haven't signed the contract.

Thing is, I've not had any relevant experience for almost 6 years since I left uni. This is due to a number of reasons affecting my personal life. I've had to leave the country, stay abroad, and now I'm back. Doing any sort of job along the way to pay the bills.

Now, considering the above, and how companies are not really keen on employing someone with this much gap on his CV. I feel this is my only option. Especially since, I really would like to work in my field or at least get some experience. It's either FDM (where it is supposedly guaranteed you'll get a role or risk it further trying to apply via agencies or directly).

Would you really recommend I accept the offer from FDM? I'm saying this, because I've been reading mixed reviews about it - mostly bad. 2 years is quite a long time, especially at my age - 30 yrs old. And then the pay.

Please help me make a decision. It would be very much appreciated.

LittleVoice

curious_1 wrote: »

Morning guys,

Please, I've come to ask for advise about a company/agency called FDM.

I've been given a place to start with them, but haven't signed the contract.

Thing is, I've not had any relevant experience for almost 6 years since I left uni. This is due to a number of reasons affecting my personal life. I've had to leave the country, stay abroad, and now I'm back. Doing any sort of job along the way to pay the bills.

Now, considering the above, and how companies are not really keen on employing someone with this much gap on his CV. I feel this is my only option. Especially since, I really would like to work in my field or at least get some experience. It's either FDM (where it is supposedly guaranteed you'll get a role or risk it further trying to apply via agencies or directly).

Would you really recommend I accept the offer from FDM? I'm saying this, because I've been reading mixed reviews about it - mostly bad. 2 years is quite a long time, especially at my age - 30 yrs old. And then the pay.

Please help me make a decision. It would be very much appreciated.

Were there any unexpected restrictions in the document?
How much holiday do they give?
Is there a sick pay scheme over and above statutory?
If you are an employee, how much do they pay you from the start?
How much notice would you have to give to terminate this employment? Anything to be paid to them if you leave within 2 years? How much notice do they have to give you to terminate the employment contract?
What would be your job title?

curious_1

LittleVoice wrote: »

Were there any unexpected restrictions in the document?
How much holiday do they give?
Is there a sick pay scheme over and above statutory?
If you are an employee, how much do they pay you from the start?
How much notice would you have to give to terminate this employment? Anything to be paid to them if you leave within 2 years? How much notice do they have to give you to terminate the employment contract?
What would be your job title?

Thanks for this and apologies for the delay.
Unexpected restrictions - Quite a few actually.
First:You agree that you will not either during, or for the period of twelve months after the end of this agreement, for any reason, directly or indirectly deal with (either alone or through any 3rd party) and FDM client of which you have become aware is an FDM client from information obtained during your training, without prior written consent unless you can show that it has no relation to an introduction we made. You further agree that the restriction contained in this clause is a reasonable precondition of our agreement to provide you with training.
Second: Once the employment contract is signed, I'm locked in it for 2 years. Only way out is if they don't get me a place 90 days after the training.

How much holiday do they give?:
During the training 9 or 12 weeks. No holiday is allowed. Only once you are on a placement with a company (one of their client).

Is there a sick pay scheme over and above statutory?
From the agreement, there is no mention of that. Since one does not get paid or can take any holidays during training. Based on deduction, no sick pay. Unless one is within the placement.

If you are an employee, how much do they pay you from the start?
Now pay. First year - £21,500 and second year is £24,000.

How much notice would you have to give to terminate this?
There's a 14 day cooling off period when you start.

Anything to be paid to them if you leave within 2 years?
If you leave within the 2 years (considering on has chosen the 'arrears' option) for paying for the training. They state one could be liable to pay up to £20,000. That's because the price they are giving the training are quite much. £2500 for most lessons. Some I don't think I need. But think they'd give you anyway, to get you up to par for the placement. But will find out either way.

How much notice do they have to give you to terminate the employment contract?
From the agreement, it can be immediate. As with most thing - at their discretion.

Reading the contract, its like they are trying to lock as much profit from people as possible. but figured, if one could use them to gain experience that is really needed. We could use easy other. Only difference is, they try their hardest to make money of me. As long as all goes well, I get my experience and a job (close to my choice) at the end of it - no complains from my end.

Hope this answers your question. Apologies for the length.

LittleVoice

curious_1 wrote: »

Thanks for this and apologies for the delay.
Unexpected restrictions - Quite a few actually.
First:You agree that you will not either during, or for the period of twelve months after the end of this agreement, for any reason, directly or indirectly deal with (either alone or through any 3rd party) and FDM client of which you have become aware is an FDM client from information obtained during your training, without prior written consent unless you can show that it has no relation to an introduction we made. You further agree that the restriction contained in this clause is a reasonable precondition of our agreement to provide you with training.
Second: Once the employment contract is signed, I'm locked in it for 2 years. Only way out is if they don't get me a place 90 days after the training. I'd expect they would find something within those 3 months and, given that £21.5K is fairly low, they could send you to anything just in order to keep you tied in but maybe pee you off so that you want to leave and pay them for the training, some of which you think is likely to be unnecessary in your case in any event.

How much holiday do they give?:
During the training 9 or 12 weeks. No holiday is allowed. Only once you are on a placement with a company (one of their client).

Is there a sick pay scheme over and above statutory?
From the agreement, there is no mention of that. Since one does not get paid or can take any holidays during training. Based on deduction, no sick pay. Unless one is within the placement.

If you are an employee, how much do they pay you from the start?
Now pay. First year - £21,500 and second year is £24,000.

How much notice would you have to give to terminate this?
There's a 14 day cooling off period when you start. But you aren't a slave and they allow for leaving within 2 years, so, in the absence of anything to the contrary, you could leave by giving them one week's notice. I'm surprised they haven't included that in the contract but perhaps they think the financial costs (repaying for training) would deter you.

Anything to be paid to them if you leave within 2 years?
If you leave within the 2 years (considering on has chosen the 'arrears' option) for paying for the training. They state one could be liable to pay up to £20,000. That's because the price they are giving the training are quite much. £2500 for most lessons. Some I don't think I need. But think they'd give you anyway, to get you up to par for the placement. But will find out either way. Could you afford to pay them £20K?

How much notice do they have to give you to terminate the employment contract?
From the agreement, it can be immediate. As with most thing - at their discretion. After you had worked for them for a month, they would have to pay you for a week. Make sure that the training cost repayment only kicks in if you are the one to resign rather than if they were to give you notice for any reason.

Reading the contract, its like they are trying to lock as much profit from people as possible. but figured, if one could use them to gain experience that is really needed. We could use easy other. Only difference is, they try their hardest to make money of me. As long as all goes well, I get my experience and a job (close to my choice) at the end of it - no complains from my end.

Hope this answers your question. Apologies for the length.

Is there any independent judgment of the quality of the training provided? Do you get recognised qualifications or just their own bits of paper?


Would you start training within that 14-day cooling off period? What happens if you "cool off" and don't want to continue? Do they try to bill you?


I wouldn't find their offer satisfactory but maybe I'm too cautious.










Or maybe not.

curious_1

LittleVoice wrote: »

Is there any independent judgment of the quality of the training provided? Do you get recognised qualifications or just their own bits of paper?


Would you start training within that 14-day cooling off period? What happens if you "cool off" and don't want to continue? Do they try to bill you?


I wouldn't find their offer satisfactory but maybe I'm too cautious.


Or maybe not.

If you leave within the cooling off period, you won't get billed. And I will confirm if one still has to pay if you get made redundant as opposed to one leaving.

The qualification one receives are the recognised certificate. So basically they provide the lessons needed to pass the exam. The other alternative if one does not want to go through them - is self study. Then one would pay the exam cost of £150 approx.

Only reason I'm swaying towards doing it, is because I have a huge 5-6 years gap on my CV. Which is not making me any confident at all. Here, I'm guaranteed (to an extent) some form of experience and a potential permanent job at the end of it. But 2 years is a long time - I think anyway.

I sad, to an extent above, because I have read situations where they just asian you to any post and expect you to take the role. Since the want to get paid.

Apologies for the late replies by the way.

Cheers.