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Apprentice dilemma

lyledunn

I must have received twenty plus cold-call applications from young lads or their parents, all seeking a start in the electrical installation industry. All seem to have secured a place at college this September, but need that precious job placement to see them through their NVQ level 3. Unfortunately, the nature of my business does not lend itself to apprenticeships. 
We often discuss the dilemma during 2391 classes. The feedback I am getting from contractors, especially the smaller outfits, is that it just isn’t worth the pain. Minimum wage, employment rights, insurance issues, health and safety considerations and day release are all cited as contributing to turning down applications from these youngsters. 
The bigger electrical contractors of yesteryear, which often gave employment to hundreds, are now management teams that employ a core cohort of electricians and use the cheapest labour-only contractors or agencies. There is no room for mentorship anymore, it has been squeezed out. Contractors want operatives who can hit the ground running and who can be dispensed with when a contract completes. They need the flexibility to expand and contract with the order book. 
I do believe that contractors understand the consequences of not opening doors to apprentices, it’s just that they are constrained in doing so by so many different hurdles.

I do offer encouragement to the young lads where I can, but to be honest, it feels a bit limp!

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  • 0

    I've got 9 employed apprentices starting in September. We have space for 15, and could stretch to 18 if required. This is in a FE College in the North West of England. For those who cannot get employment, we do the Level 2 electrical course, which is full time for 3 days a week. There have been numerous enquiries this year from 'mature' people who want to do an apprenticeship. Those who are over 30, and get the chance, do really well, and could easily finish their apprenticeship in 3 years, which is their main aim, as they are on £10/hr during training. Some of the 17year olds ,when entering, struggle to get it done in 4 years.

    Some of our other courses are seriously over-subscribed. We're turning away 50% of the potential car mechanics as we just don't have the capacity to teach them all, the same with the bricklayers, who have around 10 students being turned down. 

    What I am hearing from Employers is that they are struggling to get anyone under 21, or even 23, onto their van insurance, when it used to be 18year olds able to be put on the policy

  • 0 in reply to alanblaby
    alanblaby said:
    What I am hearing from Employers is that they are struggling to get anyone under 21, or even 23, onto their van insurance, when it used to be 18year olds able to be put on the policy

    Sam, the afore-mentioned apprentice, has just passed his driving licence. His apprenticeship was nearly at an end when he came here, but I did wonder at what stage he would be allowed to drive a company van.

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  • 0 in reply to alanblaby
    alanblaby said:
    What I am hearing from Employers is that they are struggling to get anyone under 21, or even 23, onto their van insurance, when it used to be 18year olds able to be put on the policy

    Sam, the afore-mentioned apprentice, has just passed his driving licence. His apprenticeship was nearly at an end when he came here, but I did wonder at what stage he would be allowed to drive a company van.

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