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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to be chuffed to buggery because my 17yr old has got himself a chance of an apprenticeship!

57 replies

IrianofWay · 02/12/2014 13:53

He's 17 and in his second year on a furniture making course. We were hoping, if he was lucky, he might get a chance to be an apprentice joiner or carpenter but lo and behold the college have found him a real old-fashioned bespoke furniture maker for work experience. And if the next few months go well he will offer him an apprenticeship. It's a hell of an opportunity and more than we thought he could hope for. I got fed up with vague promises from the college and chinese whispers via DS so made an appointment for a meeting with the tutor and the workplace advisor and got it all nailed down today. And as of this morning the employer has agreed to pay for DS's insurance and is really keen to meet him.

OP posts:

CallMeExhausted · 02/12/2014 14:08

That is fantastic! My DS has let us know that he wants to pursue plumbing as a career, and we are thrilled. Skilled trades are a good, secure future - even if they are not given the respect they deserve.

Wishing him all the best.

Hairtodaygonetomorrow · 02/12/2014 14:09

I like the idea of having a bespoke furniture maker in the family, very useful and he might make you some!

cherrybombxo · 02/12/2014 14:11

Fantastic! My 18yo brother did work experience in a garage for months and his hard work paid off as he started his mechanic apprenticeship yesterday.

Tell him to stick at it!

Original poster

IrianofWay · 02/12/2014 14:14

He already is hair - he is making me a little console table in oak! Not done the top yet as that will be an exam piece.

He put us through the ringer in secondary school - he never liked school much but was always OK in primary and the first few years in secondary but year 10 and 11 he just gave up. Got dreadful GCSEs. He seems to be settling to something he likes. Thank god!!

Plumbers are always in demand and seem to earn a good whack. DS's best friends is doing plumbing.

OP posts:

Andrewofgg · 02/12/2014 14:16

Splendid!!

Aeroflotgirl · 02/12/2014 14:18

Fantastic well done Irianofway ds

Poledra · 02/12/2014 14:18

Oh, that's fantastic.

As an aside, furniture makers smell lovely. A friend's husband is a cabinet maker and he always smells of wood and furniture wax Oh, and he's always got more work than he can handle, so has a waiting list, which augurs well for your DS's future prospects.

Bearbehind · 02/12/2014 14:22

That is great news (I'd love a carpenter in the family) but aren't you a bit concerned that it was you had had to take the initiative to find your son a job

Original poster

IrianofWay · 02/12/2014 14:25

No not really bear. He's been working on and off most of the last year at various things but there aren't all that many furniture makers in the area and they are usually one-man bands so not exactly crying out for students to come and clutter up their workshops. The college started the process because they had the contacts.

OP posts:

MrsCurrent · 02/12/2014 14:26

Fantastic news hope it all goes wellaand he comes away with a brilliant skill in a job he loves.

darlingfascistbullyboy · 02/12/2014 14:29

that's brilliant yanbu at all

Bearbehind · 02/12/2014 14:36

sorry OP, it read like you had gone into your sons college and arranged this apprenticeship rather than your son sorting it out for himself.

If it has been done by the college without your intervention then that makes more sense.

anothermakesthree · 02/12/2014 14:37

I think that is a bit mean Bearbehind, almost as if you were looking for anything to criticise. It doesn't read as the Op finding her son a job! Well done! I love reading success stories like this.

ClawHandsIfYouBelieveInFreaks · 02/12/2014 14:41

Bear have you got teenagers? At 17 MANY aren't that confident.

LadyLuck10 · 02/12/2014 14:42

Oh well done to your DS!

Bearbehind · 02/12/2014 14:45

I don't doubt that claw but I just found it odd that it read like the mother had to find her son a job and the employer hadn't even met him.

If he's been involved in getting the job then it is fabulous news.

Original poster

IrianofWay · 02/12/2014 14:51

The college arranged it to start with bear. Regardless of how much he had been involved there are safeguarding issues as he is still a minor and as parents our input is required

OP posts:

Bexicles · 02/12/2014 14:54

That's lovely news, good for him!

KnitFastDieWarm · 02/12/2014 15:15

Good lad! What a wonderful ambition, to continue a skill and a craft that has been handed down through the ages. He could also consider these - www.buildingbursaries.org.uk/ - run by the national trust and english heritage, restoring beautiful buildings and furniture with apprenticeships for all kinds of skilled trades including carpentry. I have a friend who's a NT house manager and she's always raving about the carpentry and stonemasonry apprentices

MyIronLung · 02/12/2014 15:30

That's brilliant!
My Dd is 17 and in her second year of her hairdressing apprenticeship. I don't know what it's like where you are but around here they're like gold dust! She spent months pounding the streets with her cv to end up being offered 3 separate places, whereas some of her friends from school haven't been able to find or be offered even one place. It was completely down to dds hard work that she got anywhere.

Unfortunatly she had a rocky start with an awful employer ( think, not paying her correctly, keeping half of her wages from the government to pay for other things in the salon, treating her as a slave, even referring to her as her personal slave to clients, unpredictable mood swings of a violent nature and refusing holiday) but she stuck it out, rather than losing her apprenticeship, and put all of her effort into finding a really good place, with lots of opportunities, where she's been for 6 month now :-)

I will just say to be careful. Some employers simply take on apprentices to get a bonus lump sum of money from the government after a certain amount of time(I think it's basically a bit of a 'well done for keeping hold of your apprentice' type thing) and once they've got it can let go of the apprentice but keep the money.. It's happened to 2 kids that I know.

I'm so pleased for your son and I hope it works out well for him :-)

KatyMac · 02/12/2014 15:30

How lovely

kittykathat · 02/12/2014 15:44

So what? They are easy to get

MyIronLung · 02/12/2014 16:22

Um actually kittyKat no they're not.
There are limited amounts of employers who are willing to take on apprentices and many many people trying to get one.

Why comment if you can't be pleasant and just say well done?

lem73 · 02/12/2014 16:28

Congratulations. My ds is in year 10 and is doing my head in right now about studying so I am envious! Getting a skill/trade is so important (says the politics graduate??)
And if you had to go in and give things a shove, so what? They wouldn't be investing in him if he wasn't worth it.

mymummademelistentoshitmusic · 02/12/2014 16:32

Well done your son! I'm not surprised you're proud.
Ignore kittytwat. Don't feed it.

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