Post 16 options. No employers for apprenticeships

[MydogWillow]

Hi. Not been on here for ages but would really like to pick your brains please.

DS 16, Yr 11, last "formal" day next Friday. He is wanting to do an apprenticeship in soft landscaping/maintenance. We started looking for an employer early in February and found someone local who was very keen, had a meeting and they have been in contact with the college so assumed that it was a go-er.

However as time has passed, it looks like we have been let down by them as they have stopped communicating with the college and us also. However, they are exceptionally busy atm so we are trying to keep positive but time is ticking.

We are now looking at Plan B incase they definitely pull out but have found very few employers locally are wanting to take on apprentices. It would seem this industry is so busy that employers can't be arsed don't want to commit to training an apprentice particularly in the current climate. We are rarely getting responses at all, which I understand isn't unusual in that industry.

Travelling further afield is only as good as public transport allows (not reliable for early starts or late finishes associated with this work) or for cycling/moped.

While DS has enjoyed school he isn't naturally academic and so 6th form or college isn't for him.

So my question is:
If he finds somewhere suitable and they want to employ him but not through an apprenticeship, that will effectively mean he's NEET? And what are the implications of that?

We really hope the original employer comes through but my spidey senses are saying otherwise. We really thought we were sorted nice and early so this has taken us by surprise and are now panicking looking for other options.

TIA and thank you for reading.

I think part of the problem at the moment is the big push on the Kickstart scheme. Apprenticeships but you can only apply if unemployed and claiming UC. I don't know the ins and outs of the scheme but remember them being announced last year and thinking what about the people who were relying on an apprenticeship for their next steps but not claiming UC? I know an 18 year old living at home came put in their own UC claim but i'm not sure if a 16 year old can.

Thank you. I'd not heard about this.

It would seem locally, college is the easy bit but finding an employer willing to commit is proving problematic

Gone are the days kids could leave school at 16 (or 14 even...!) and go straight into work.

Finding an employer has always been the difficult bit! I agree that most small employers would take a free employee on the Kickstart scheme than an apprentice they have to pay so its probably even more difficult at the moment.

Have you looked at local big employers - local authorities tend to take on apprentices, plus zoos, theme parks, universities etc will all have landscaping teams.

Is there no college in travelling distance that does a course he would be interested in as a back up plan? If a college offers something as an apprenticeship they will usually offer it as a full time course too.

@superduster

Finding an employer has always been the difficult bit! I agree that most small employers would take a free employee on the Kickstart scheme than an apprentice they have to pay so its probably even more difficult at the moment.

Have you looked at local big employers - local authorities tend to take on apprentices, plus zoos, theme parks, universities etc will all have landscaping teams.

Is there no college in travelling distance that does a course he would be interested in as a back up plan? If a college offers something as an apprenticeship they will usually offer it as a full time course too.

We have called all our local private estates, schools, business parks etc. Lots are out of range in terms of getting there unfortunately. DS applied through a national company for a local job 10 minute bike ride away but didn't get an interview sadly.

The college does do a full time course, but the campus is even further out in the sticks. OK for one day a week I don't mind the journey at all, but 5 days wouldn't be viable and the college bus only takes them so far. It's really frustrating!

Is the college course definitely five days a week? It's just both my two went to different colleges,one doing animal management and the other carpentry and both were in three days,though the courses said full time.

@kerkyra

Is the college course definitely five days a week? It's just both my two went to different colleges,one doing animal management and the other carpentry and both were in three days,though the courses said full time.

Good point, I shall double check. What did your two do on the other days?

Not alot to be honest,just a bit of studying. Both had jobs in shops though at the weekend.
Good luck

Do you know happens if they children are neet?
My DS is hopefully going to college but not overly interested and there aren't many good apprenticeships around.
He is going to start looking for a part time job when year 11 finishes.
What happens if he goes to college and doesn't like it

@passmethemilk

Do you know happens if they children are neet? My DS is hopefully going to college but not overly interested and there aren't many good apprenticeships around. He is going to start looking for a part time job when year 11 finishes. What happens if he goes to college and doesn't like it

What line of work/trade is your DS looking at?

There are so many kids (young adults) who just want to crack on and work at 16.

I think that should be applauded not have barriers in the way!

My ds left college with a carpentry qualification,worked a year at a joinery firm on minimum wage,got made redundant due to covid,decided he doesnt like carpentry and tonight decided he wants to join the army!?
It's very hard when they don't know what to do in life.

My ds1 is a bit older (18). He's just finished A'levels but adamant he didn't want to go to uni and accrue £1000s in debt. He wants to do a post A'level apprenticeship in IT but struggling to find one. Had a bit of interest from one employer a few months back but they wanted someone straight away. I'm so worried he'll end up with nothing. He's bright but dyslexic so A'levels will never be stellar .

Just a thought but there are higher & further education colleges which have halls including for 16+ and completely separate from the 18+ housing. Generally at colleges who offer land based courses/animal management those kinds of things. I looked at one with my son a few years ago. They often have an amazing range of btecs and as someone said 3 or 4 days a week so there's time for some part time work too. The education element is free and if I remember correctly the accommodation was less than £4,000 a year. Most students at that age would go home at the weekend (we ruled it out on that basis as based abroad). It may seem a bit far removed from what you were both thinking but have a look and see where is the closest college like that to you and what courses they offer. Two I know of are Hartpury in Gloucestershire and Moulton College in Northamptonshire.

Thanks for all your information and advice.

Good news, after feeling so despondent earlier in the week about non-responses from local firms, DS had a telephone interview yesterday afternoon for a local apprenticeship/job he applied for a couple of weeks ago (they'd only just around to looking at the applications even though they said if you don't hear back by the 13th, you're application won't be going any further). He's was successful on that and has been added to the short-list for potential interview! We'll know next week. This is his ideal job on an 80 acre site (10 minute cycle ride too) and one he would most like.

He also had a call back yesterday from our local manor house (also apprenticeship and a 15 minute cycle ride) and the owner wants to see him this afternoon :-)

These many not come to anything of course, but we are feeling a lot more positive.

That's great @MydogWillow.hopefully one of those will come to something and even if it doesn't it's injected a bit more hope in the situation. Fingers crossed.

@TheTeenageYears

That's great *@MydogWillow*.hopefully one of those will come to something and even if it doesn't it's injected a bit more hope in the situation. Fingers crossed.

Thankyou.

Can he find a training provider and they help with finding a placement?

I employ apprentices, (although in a different industry) and most of the applicants come through the company we use to do the training.

Get your DS to call the National Careers Service who can give him advice. Also he can look on the Find an apprenticeship website. Most apprenticeships are through smaller employers but it may be more stable with a large employer who has this as part of its wider business rather than just solely landscaping.

I'd recommend the Gov.UK find an apprenticeship website. Create an account and all apprenticeships in your area will be listed, with alerts sent if new positions become available. You can upload a CV and apply online through the website.

@17bluebirds

Can he find a training provider and they help with finding a placement?

I employ apprentices, (although in a different industry) and most of the applicants come through the company we use to do the training.

Hi, we are in regular touch with our local college and also another training provider.

We started looking in February but I understand May time is when things really pick up pace. It feels we are running out of time but it's probably because we've been on it for a few months.

@user1471538283

Get your DS to call the National Careers Service who can give him advice. Also he can look on the Find an apprenticeship website. Most apprenticeships are through smaller employers but it may be more stable with a large employer who has this as part of its wider business rather than just solely landscaping.

Great advice. Will do.

@SmileyClare

I'd recommend the Gov.UK find an apprenticeship website. Create an account and all apprenticeships in your area will be listed, with alerts sent if new positions become available. You can upload a CV and apply online through the website.

Hi, we look on there very day and in fact the position he is currently shortlisted for was through there. It's a good site.

NEET is not in education employment or training so if he has a job he won’t be NEET.

@supercatlady

NEET is not in education employment or training so if he has a job he won’t be NEET.

Ah I'm getting confused about NEET. I understood it that 16 year olds have to be either in education or training with a recognised training provider until they're 18 and they can't just leave school and go straight into employment. I guess then NEET status is for 18+ ?

As far as I understand, under 18s have to be in some sort of training? Not just working.

It may be worth your son broadening his search and considering other apprenticeships? My son wanted something in IT but after months of searching, he's now just completed an apprenticeship with an electrical trader and been offered full time work. Not something he initially considered but he's enjoying it.

A word of warning, a lot of industries take advantage of apprenticeship schemes to get free labour particularly the hospitality and catering sector, with no intention of taking them on at the end.