Not being kept on after apprenticeship. Advice needed?

Feyfangirl

Hi All

I recently heard from the owner of the nursery I work at that unfortunately I am not being kept on after I qualify next month. I am having an operation in a couple of weeks and after would need two weeks to recover, so my employer had "suggested" strongly I "finish" without completing my apprenticeship when I am scheduled to contract wise which is the end of August. I told her politely that I am going to get my qualification, as all of this is not going to be for nothing. I sense I am not flavor of the month with management...

I I am gutted to say the least as loved the job. Anyway. I am 23, and I was completing a level 2. I was wondering though in the long run, what would my chances be of finding a level 3 childcare apprenticeship.. would I have to pay to take it due to my age and having already done a level 2? any advice would be appreciated

TBagpuss

Do you have a supervisor / mentor via the apprenticeship scheme? If so,. ask them to speak with your manager about asking you to leave before completing your apprenticeship.
Although your employer isn't obliged to keep you on after you finish your apprenticeship, I don't think they can simply dismiss you before it ends (which would be what they are doing if they tell you not to come back after your sick leave).
Did the manager back down on their 'suggestion' when you made clear that you wanted to complete your apprenticeship?

Feyfangirl

TBagpuss wrote: »

Do you have a supervisor / mentor via the apprenticeship scheme? If so,. ask them to speak with your manager about asking you to leave before completing your apprenticeship.
Although your employer isn't obliged to keep you on after you finish your apprenticeship, I don't think they can simply dismiss you before it ends (which would be what they are doing if they tell you not to come back after your sick leave).
Did the manager back down on their 'suggestion' when you made clear that you wanted to complete your apprenticeship?

I do have a mentor for it, due to speak to her soon. From what I can gather she has, but with her track record I am going to watch this space. As from what I have heard recently shes known for this. So I doubt I am going to be paid properly honestly.

ohreally

All our apprentices, going back many years, found themselves potentially out of a job on completion of the apprenticeship, this often tied in with a retirement or such like and a job could be found for them but this was in no way guaranteed.

Feyfangirl

ohreally wrote: »

All our apprentices, going back many years, found themselves potentially out of a job on completion of the apprenticeship, this often tied in with a retirement or such like and a job could be found for them but this was in no way guaranteed.

I am not surprised that I am not being kept on, nor was I expecting them to find me a job. My issue with my employer is her history of hiring apprentices, saying after there is no job for them, then literally days after firing them she then advertises their position at a cheaper rate. Makes business sense, sucks for the employee. But that genuinely is the way of the world. My question is though for ones of my age group if they are able to get another apprenticeship elsewhere without having to pay over the odds to do it if they're already qualified on one apprenticeship you see

patman99

It might be down to your employer gaming the system.

An employer gets paid a bonus for each apprentice that completes their apprentiship. Some companies (such as one in Colchester that trains Rail workers), work a scheme whereby they always have at least one apprentice on the books in order to get the bonus.

Of course, they don't have to keep the apprentice on after the apprentiship ends, so they don't.

You will find that the week after you finish, another new apprentice will take your place and so the wheel turns.

As for level 3, you would be better-off asking your mentor this whilst you are still an apprentice.