Should I stay or should I go?!

[simons123]

Been with current company nearly 2 years now. 6 months in they offered me a great opportunity to change career internally and put me on a degree conversion course (paid through government apprenticeship funds so nothing to pay back)

I have just under a year left of degree, however over last 18 months feel like I've learnt nothing new. I have asked to get to the next stage but they just say tell me I need to walk before I can run. Which I guess is good as they not throwing me in the deep end but I kinda want to be. Also the commute is between 1 hour to 1 hour 20 mins daily to get to my work location in Manchester.

Been approached about a new role that is offering 8k a year more, will take on the rest of my degree, will learn more things and is only a 20 minute commute away.

As company been so good to me feel like I should show some loyalty and I'm still relatively new to the career change. However the extra money and much lower commute is tempting.

Thoughts?

Edited by simons123 on Friday 30th June 08:43

[GiantEnemyCrab]

Any payback conditions tied into your existing degree?

[simons123]

GiantEnemyCrab said:

Any payback conditions tied into your existing degree?

None that I can see in the contract. It's through the government levy

[ambuletz]

If you go there might be trouble, but if you stay there might be double.

[Trying2GoFast]

simons123 said:

None that I can see in the contract. It's through the government levy

I was an apprentice for a large OEM and had payback clauses in my contract. It was funded via government levy. After 7 months of completing my apprenticeship I decided to leave. Of course the usual threats of chasing for (I think) 100% of the costs came - my contract stipulated that after 3 years I'd repay nothing and it was tapering down per year up until then.

Got in touch with the Dept. for Education and they referred me to Section E59 & 59.3 in the Apprenticeship Funding Rules doc which is available on the .gov website.

Forwarded this onto my ex-employer and there was no more discussion.

With regards to your situation - it's a tough one. You'd need to think about whether the 1h less commute could be spent better with your family, or if you are a single person then would that matter to you? What do you value in life?

If your current employer is a major player in the role that they are now training you up in, then maybe it would be worth sticking around for the clout on the CV, and springboard off the back of that in the future to attain even higher wages. If the new proposed employer is flexible, understanding and also a major player in the section you're being trained in, then it wouldn't hurt, right?

I suppose if sales related then maybe check for non-compete clauses in your current contract.

This is quite a personal decision, and only you can weigh up the pros and cons for the job offer based on how you want to live your life. Only you know your current personal situation.

Best of luck.

[Countdown]

simons123 said:

GiantEnemyCrab said:

Any payback conditions tied into your existing degree?

None that I can see in the contract. It's through the government levy

You're correct - there are no payback clauses for the App Levy tuition fees. There might be some if they've funded ancillary costs such as travel and accommodation but unlikely in my experience.

The Employer doesn't actually pay anything extra for App Levy tuition fees. They get taxed 0.5% of payroll above £3m, this goes into a pot that they can choose to use for Apprenticeship training. If they don't use it they lose it.

[LastPoster]

Countdown said:

simons123 said:

GiantEnemyCrab said:

Any payback conditions tied into your existing degree?

None that I can see in the contract. It's through the government levy

You're correct - there are no payback clauses for the App Levy tuition fees. There might be some if they've funded ancillary costs such as travel and accommodation but unlikely in my experience.

The Employer doesn't actually pay anything extra for App Levy tuition fees. They get taxed 0.5% of payroll above £3m, this goes into a pot that they can choose to use for Apprenticeship training. If they don't use it they lose it.

Presumably they have given the OP the mandated 20% of working hrs per week as 'off the job' time to undertake training and study. They might seek to recover this

Or his employer may not be at the threshold and have claimed nearly all of his cost from the Government

[simons123]

LastPoster said:

Countdown said:

simons123 said:

GiantEnemyCrab said:

Any payback conditions tied into your existing degree?

None that I can see in the contract. It's through the government levy

You're correct - there are no payback clauses for the App Levy tuition fees. There might be some if they've funded ancillary costs such as travel and accommodation but unlikely in my experience.

The Employer doesn't actually pay anything extra for App Levy tuition fees. They get taxed 0.5% of payroll above £3m, this goes into a pot that they can choose to use for Apprenticeship training. If they don't use it they lose it.

Presumably they have given the OP the mandated 20% of working hrs per week as 'off the job' time to undertake training and study. They might seek to recover this

Or his employer may not be at the threshold and have claimed nearly all of his cost from the Government

Yeah I do get the study day and my apprenticeship lady told me the company are paid for me to have it off

[simons123]

Trying2GoFast said:

simons123 said:

None that I can see in the contract. It's through the government levy

I was an apprentice for a large OEM and had payback clauses in my contract. It was funded via government levy. After 7 months of completing my apprenticeship I decided to leave. Of course the usual threats of chasing for (I think) 100% of the costs came - my contract stipulated that after 3 years I'd repay nothing and it was tapering down per year up until then.

Got in touch with the Dept. for Education and they referred me to Section E59 & 59.3 in the Apprenticeship Funding Rules doc which is available on the .gov website.

Forwarded this onto my ex-employer and there was no more discussion.

With regards to your situation - it's a tough one. You'd need to think about whether the 1h less commute could be spent better with your family, or if you are a single person then would that matter to you? What do you value in life?

If your current employer is a major player in the role that they are now training you up in, then maybe it would be worth sticking around for the clout on the CV, and springboard off the back of that in the future to attain even higher wages. If the new proposed employer is flexible, understanding and also a major player in the section you're being trained in, then it wouldn't hurt, right?

I suppose if sales related then maybe check for non-compete clauses in your current contract.

This is quite a personal decision, and only you can weigh up the pros and cons for the job offer based on how you want to live your life. Only you know your current personal situation.

Best of luck.

Thanks for the reply man.

Definitely food for thought. I'm not particularly enjoying the job, quite miserable really, but then another part of me thinks it make my life easier if I at least keep my head down and stay for the next 8 months to complete my degree then leave in a better position with a degree.

[snotrag]

simons123 said:

... company been so good to me feel like I should show some loyalty and I'm still relatively new to the career change....

Thoughts?

I'm assuming your young-ish. Its really good to enoy your work, your colleagues, and to feel valued. However do not ever fall into the trap of thinking you 'owe' anyone anything. I wish I'd learnt this earlier.

Stayed at a job for way too long that I enjoyed, had a great boss, was promised the earth but I was simply underpaid, over promised and they never delivered. Leaving was the hardest but best thing I ever did for my career.



I distinctly remember a fellow colleague, who had left it too long and was trapped, telling me that i'll never be able to walk into the bank asking for a car loan or mortgage on the basis of "well my boss says im really valued and a great employee".

[Ashfordian]

simons123 said:

Been with current company nearly 2 years now. 6 months in they offered me a great opportunity to change career internally and put me on a degree conversion course (paid through government apprenticeship funds so nothing to pay back)

I have just under a year left of degree, however over last 18 months feel like I've learnt nothing new. I have asked to get to the next stage but they just say tell me I need to walk before I can run. Which I guess is good as they not throwing me in the deep end but I kinda want to be. Also the commute is between 1 hour to 1 hour 20 mins daily to get to my work location in Manchester.

Been approached about a new role that is offering 8k a year more, will take on the rest of my degree, will learn more things and is only a 20 minute commute away.

As company been so good to me feel like I should show some loyalty and I'm still relatively new to the career change. However the extra money and much lower commute is tempting.

Thoughts?

Edited by simons123 on Friday 30th June 08:43

Sounds like you are only thinking of staying out of loyalty. If business took a downturn do you think they would be loyal to you?

You need to look at this as a business decision, with you being the business and what is best for your business. Nothing you have written has said to me stay with your current employer, particularly the commute and the money. Also doesn't sound like you have got the new role so I would definitely go through the recruitment process and see what happens.

Only possible downside of leaving is burning bridges, but only you know how/if this will happen and if this could cause problems further down the line (eg is it a small industry sector where everyone knows everyone else?)

[Countdown]

simons123 said:

Yeah I do get the study day and my apprenticeship lady told me the company are paid for me to have it off

Unfortunately Apprenticeship Lady was wrong. Companies aren't paid for the 20% OTJ training. However it cannot be reclaimed by the Employer. Youir Hr dept should be well aware of this.

[simons123]

Countdown said:

simons123 said:

Yeah I do get the study day and my apprenticeship lady told me the company are paid for me to have it off

Unfortunately Apprenticeship Lady was wrong. Companies aren't paid for the 20% OTJ training. However it cannot be reclaimed by the Employer. Youir Hr dept should be well aware of this.

So does that mean they could claim for that time off or would that not be possible?

[Slowboathome]

Blimey.

I read your original post and thought moving on is a no-brainer.

At your stage of career learning nothing for 18 months would be ample reason to move on, even more so if you've flagged that up with your employer.

I guess you could go to your current organisation and explain that you've been approached, that you're torn, would like to stay, what could they offer you?

Also: are you ambitious? If you're not and want to stay with the familiar then fair enough.

[Countdown]

simons123 said:

Countdown said:

simons123 said:

Yeah I do get the study day and my apprenticeship lady told me the company are paid for me to have it off

Unfortunately Apprenticeship Lady was wrong. Companies aren't paid for the 20% OTJ training. However it cannot be reclaimed by the Employer. Youir Hr dept should be well aware of this.

So does that mean they could claim for that time off or would that not be possible?

Employers don't get any funding for the 20% Off the Job training (it's a cost they have to stand). They can't reclaim it from the Apprentice Levy. They also can't reclaim it from the Apprentice if he/she leaves.

HTH