Taking on an Apprentice
Discussion
Im currently in the early stages of finding and interviewing an apprentice in carpentry and joinery to work within my company, I am a sole trader and have run my own company for the last 8 years.I am also a member of the Guild of Master Craftsman.
What i need to know is the best way to take on an apprentice?
I have read that there is funding availiable and grants in place to support myself and him.It use to be with the CITB?
All this would help in paying his wages and giving him the best possible training.
A lot of advice i have been given points to the job title of Apprentice and apparently once you take someone on if they turn out to be rubbish ie (dont turn up/bunk off College) they are very if not impossible to get shot off...How do i stand legally if this happens?
I want to do this properly and i know i will have to upgrade my Public Liablity insurance and have a contract in place before we start, but what else do i need to do?
Anyone done the same? i dont thing it matters in what industry
Any help at all would be much appreciated
TIA
Frosty
What i need to know is the best way to take on an apprentice?
I have read that there is funding availiable and grants in place to support myself and him.It use to be with the CITB?
All this would help in paying his wages and giving him the best possible training.
A lot of advice i have been given points to the job title of Apprentice and apparently once you take someone on if they turn out to be rubbish ie (dont turn up/bunk off College) they are very if not impossible to get shot off...How do i stand legally if this happens?
I want to do this properly and i know i will have to upgrade my Public Liablity insurance and have a contract in place before we start, but what else do i need to do?
Anyone done the same? i dont thing it matters in what industry
Any help at all would be much appreciated
TIA
Frosty
Edited by FROSTYR1 on Sunday 21st September 09:37
Not public liability upgrade but employers liability insurance bought.
You can easily sack your apprentice as you have less than 20 staff just make sure you do it before a year is up or you will then have to go through the normal berbal written warning hoops.
You can simply tell him he is unsuitable without any further explanation.
Any shoddy work get shut regardless of work pressures it's YOUR reputation.
Your statement of terms and conditions are all thats needed. Basically the hours expected to work. The renumeration and place of employment.
In woodworking good luck I ran a factory of 40 staff making furniture. You will now have to do endless health and safety training and fire assesments etc etc. Don't forget working at heights regs if you use step ladders or ladders and machine tool training etc get everything SIGNED by your employee and keep a record of machine guard inspections.
need any info anytime I will be pleased to help.
You can easily sack your apprentice as you have less than 20 staff just make sure you do it before a year is up or you will then have to go through the normal berbal written warning hoops.
You can simply tell him he is unsuitable without any further explanation.
Any shoddy work get shut regardless of work pressures it's YOUR reputation.
Your statement of terms and conditions are all thats needed. Basically the hours expected to work. The renumeration and place of employment.
In woodworking good luck I ran a factory of 40 staff making furniture. You will now have to do endless health and safety training and fire assesments etc etc. Don't forget working at heights regs if you use step ladders or ladders and machine tool training etc get everything SIGNED by your employee and keep a record of machine guard inspections.
need any info anytime I will be pleased to help.
Edited by mark69sheer on Sunday 21st September 09:45
In my experience of being an apprentice in garages the general rule is you're first taken on for a one month or three month trial. This way you can get to know him properly and you'll have a good indication if he's a bright, honest hardworking lad, or someone who is likely damage all your tools, show up late every day and bunk off college to go do handbrake turns in the local quarry.
mark69sheer said:
Not public liability upgrade but employers liability insurance bought.
You can easily sack your apprentice as you have less than 20 staff just make sure you do it before a year is up or you will then have to go through the normal berbal written warning hoops.
You can simply tell him he is unsuitable without any further explanation.
Any shoddy work get shut regardless of work pressures it's YOUR reputation.
Your statement of terms and conditions are all thats needed. Basically the hours expected to work. The renumeration and place of employment.
In woodworking good luck I ran a factory of 40 staff making furniture. You will now have to do endless health and safety training and fire assesments etc etc. Don't forget working at heights regs if you use step ladders or ladders and machine tool training etc get everything SIGNED by your employee and keep a record of machine guard inspections.
need any info anytime I will be pleased to help.
Thanks Mark some good advice there have taken it onboard.You can easily sack your apprentice as you have less than 20 staff just make sure you do it before a year is up or you will then have to go through the normal berbal written warning hoops.
You can simply tell him he is unsuitable without any further explanation.
Any shoddy work get shut regardless of work pressures it's YOUR reputation.
Your statement of terms and conditions are all thats needed. Basically the hours expected to work. The renumeration and place of employment.
In woodworking good luck I ran a factory of 40 staff making furniture. You will now have to do endless health and safety training and fire assesments etc etc. Don't forget working at heights regs if you use step ladders or ladders and machine tool training etc get everything SIGNED by your employee and keep a record of machine guard inspections.
need any info anytime I will be pleased to help.
Edited by mark69sheer on Sunday 21st September 09:45
This is the biggest probelm i have, these days its all the health and safety stuff that gets in the way of actually DOING the job.
Darkslider said:
In my experience of being an apprentice in garages the general rule is you're first taken on for a one month or three month trial. This way you can get to know him properly and you'll have a good indication if he's a bright, honest hardworking lad, or someone who is likely damage all your tools, show up late every day and bunk off college to go do handbrake turns in the local quarry.
Cheers for the response, i think a months trial sounds the best route! i didnt realise that i could do that nowadays.To be honest i think after a couple of weeks to find his feet and i should have a good idea of what he is like.
I thought we both would have to commit to a minimum of a two year apprenticeship.
If thats not the case then it works out better for me anyway
Thanks for your input.
FROSTYR1 said:
Darkslider said:
In my experience of being an apprentice in garages the general rule is you're first taken on for a one month or three month trial. This way you can get to know him properly and you'll have a good indication if he's a bright, honest hardworking lad, or someone who is likely damage all your tools, show up late every day and bunk off college to go do handbrake turns in the local quarry.
Cheers for the response, i think a months trial sounds the best route! i didnt realise that i could do that nowadays.To be honest i think after a couple of weeks to find his feet and i should have a good idea of what he is like.
I thought we both would have to commit to a minimum of a two year apprenticeship.
If thats not the case then it works out better for me anyway
Thanks for your input.
When I served my time in the machine shop I spent a whole year at college before I even turned a machine on in the factory I was employed by.
I did six years before I got my papers, which was quite normal back in the seventies.
King Herald said:
A minimum of two years? Is this some sort of 'home designed' apprenticeship, or is it part of the City and Guilds apprenticeship system, if that noble body still exists?
When I served my time in the machine shop I spent a whole year at college before I even turned a machine on in the factory I was employed by.
I did six years before I got my papers, which was quite normal back in the seventies.
Its not a Home designed apprenticeship at all...although i do work from home if thats what you mean? When I served my time in the machine shop I spent a whole year at college before I even turned a machine on in the factory I was employed by.
I did six years before I got my papers, which was quite normal back in the seventies.
I am myself properly trained i completed Three years at college, two years City and Guilds and the final year of Advanced Craft this was back in 1992. The course was block release 4 weeks on site, and 6 weeks in college for example.
I know how i did it and many older guys completed six years who i shadowed for most of my time and learnt plenty from on site..
its how its done now which iam interested in and the confusing part!
there is many NVQ courses out there when there use to be only one!
So much easier back in my day....
Edited by FROSTYR1 on Sunday 21st September 17:04
Qualification and funding wise - I suggest you get in touch with your local college. They will be able to advise you on what courses are available depending on whether you want to send the apprentice to college or not. They should also be able to put you in touch with a local company that can deal with the funding side of things for you. This will usually be a training company that provides NVQ and key skills training. They will know all the funding avenues and can also advise on training courses and providers.
The company I work for uses different methods of obtaining the relevant qualifications depending on the job in question.
Engineering apprentices have to attend college 1 day per week and are doing a 4 year apprenticeship. It will take 4 years to complete all the training they have to do to get thier HND & HNC.
Production apprentices spend all 5 days in work and are completing NVQ's and are doing a 2 year apprenticeship as it will only take 2 years to complete all thier training and get the required NVQ's & City & Guilds. We do the City & Guilds via distance learning with support form local college if the apprentices get stuck.
HTH
The company I work for uses different methods of obtaining the relevant qualifications depending on the job in question.
Engineering apprentices have to attend college 1 day per week and are doing a 4 year apprenticeship. It will take 4 years to complete all the training they have to do to get thier HND & HNC.
Production apprentices spend all 5 days in work and are completing NVQ's and are doing a 2 year apprenticeship as it will only take 2 years to complete all thier training and get the required NVQ's & City & Guilds. We do the City & Guilds via distance learning with support form local college if the apprentices get stuck.
HTH
Roger McLittriss said:
Don't forget: NVQ = Not Very Qualified 
I was looking into teaching at a local college, and they needed me to 'translate' my City and Guilds papers into modern-speak NVQ before they could even consider looking at allowing me to train as a teacher!It is not so long ago that City and Guilds credentials were recognised and respected across the
King Herald said:
Roger McLittriss said:
Don't forget: NVQ = Not Very Qualified
I was looking into teaching at a local college, and they needed me to 'translate' my City and Guilds papers into modern-speak NVQ before they could even consider looking at allowing me to train as a teacher!It is not so long ago that City and Guilds credentials were recognised and respected across the
Bit of an update..
I have spoken to CITB and applied for a Grant with them on the funding side of things.Also i interviewed a 17 year old lad yesterday who has already completed his first year at a local college and passed both elements.
He seems the idea candidate intelligent,very keen,hardworking he has already worked with another carpenter for two days a week while doing his first year at college so not completely new to how things are done.
He will work with me for 4 days and 1 day at college untill he completes the course all looks very promising so far.
Thanks for all the advice
I have spoken to CITB and applied for a Grant with them on the funding side of things.Also i interviewed a 17 year old lad yesterday who has already completed his first year at a local college and passed both elements.
He seems the idea candidate intelligent,very keen,hardworking he has already worked with another carpenter for two days a week while doing his first year at college so not completely new to how things are done.
He will work with me for 4 days and 1 day at college untill he completes the course all looks very promising so far.
Thanks for all the advice
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