Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to discourage my daughter from doing apprentise?

70 replies

ghostspirit · 28/05/2015 13:17

it would be working in an office. 40 hours a week 500 a month.

reason i dont want her to do it is. 1st year at college she done an animal care course. she passed parts of the course but not all of it. was meant to do so many hours work experience. she never done that and there are other bits she never done. so that was a waste of her first year.

2nd year she decided to do beauty course. its twice a week. had lots of problems getting her to go in for them 2 days on and of through the year. she only has till july to go, and she wants to give it up to do the apprentise. im thinking it will be another year wasted when shes so close to finishing. also if its a struggle to get her to college twice a week how she going to manage 40 hours.

shes coming up 18 but shes younger than her actual age though.

do i discourage her and push her to finish college. or let her get on with things

OP posts:
LIZS · 28/05/2015 13:19

She doesn't sound very committed to her studies or those career paths. Has she achieved any qualifications? Maybe a working environment and wages will be more productive.

Geneticsbunny · 28/05/2015 13:20

I would let her do it. I assume it is like a job? Will they fire her if she is late or doesn't turn up? If she can still live at home with you it might be a good way for her to learn about the world of work. She will either love it or hate it and if she hates it it might encourage her to work harder at college?

MrsLeighHalfpenny · 28/05/2015 13:21

If she does an apprenticeship, there will be repurcussions for not attending work, so it might be just the incentive she needs to do her hours!

She may not get accepted onto an apprenticeship though, if they ask for references from the colleges she's attended.

Original poster
ghostspirit · 28/05/2015 13:22

thats what im thinking liz if she still had a long time left at college i would not overly question it but with not long to go it seems silly to give it up.

OP posts:
Icimoi · 28/05/2015 13:22

It does sound mad giving up less than two months before the end of her course. I would try to encourage her to put off the apprenticeship till the course finishes.

ollieplimsoles · 28/05/2015 13:25

Tbh Op (and I see your worries) but I would let her go for this.

Some people just don't like studying, and struggle to get settled, but they end up thriving in a job/ apprenticeship. This could be the making of her.

I would much rather she spent a few years trying the find something she wanted to do that would set her up in employment for the time being and offered good future prospects, than insisting she carried on with a course she doesn't seem to enjoy just for the purposes of finishing it.

I hope so gets on the apprenticeship it sounds like a good one

Idefix · 28/05/2015 13:26

What were reasons for not completing the work experience for the first course and the course work? Why does she not want to do the beauty course?

I think that she may need a frank conversation about her expectations regarding the apprenticeship - much more like a job IME and will not be kept on if she doesn't attend and won't get the money?

If the other two course were a mistake do you/she think this is more apt for dd? Lots of young people get pulled towards animal care and beauty but they don't always live up to expectation.

I spent four years doing a very vocational degree course which I realised was not for me but was too scared to walk away from and I was a very young 18. Very easy to make the wrong choices.

Original poster
ghostspirit · 28/05/2015 13:26

they told her shes got a place and can start on tuesday. only think that really bothers me is theres not long left to go at college. and shes throwing away a qulification for the sake of a few weeks. mind you if starts on tuesday by friday i guess she will have some idea of if its right for heror wht ever

OP posts:
MyNameIsPinkiePie · 28/05/2015 13:26

An apprenticeship is a great opportunity. She may be paid lower initially but she'll be getting training alongside which is paid for by the employer/government and will have valuable experience. Office work will really help show she is able to work in a professional environment and her pay will increase over time as she qualifies. But it won't be tolerated if she doesn't turn up to work or training days, same with most employers and education providers, she has to grow up and take responsibility - unless there are reasons for her being younger than her years and she needs to get support for this.

Parsley1234 · 28/05/2015 13:30

If you can get her to finish the beauty then maybe a stint in a salon/spa. I did my beauty at 31 hated the course was never going to do it but when I got my own salon and now do clients at home to fit in with my son it is worth it's weight in gold. When she starts earning money and good money at that may change her mind .

19lottie82 · 28/05/2015 13:32

To be fair, beauticians don't usually get paid more than minimum wage, if you can even get a job. So I wouldn't be encouraging her down that path either.

Stinkylinky · 28/05/2015 13:36

Your daughter sounds like me OP! I did an animal care course after leaving school which I didn't finish, same with a beauty course. I did an apprenticeship in business and admin in an office and it was the making of me. Education isn't for me, this sounds like the case for your daughter too

DixieNormas · 28/05/2015 13:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NotYouNaanBread · 28/05/2015 13:46

An office based apprenticeship is a great opportunity, and as it's a real job, she will have discipline (or be sacked immediately) and a structured social setting, which is more fun than a course 2 days a week.

Beauty therapists are dreadfully paid. She has infinitely better prospects in an office environment where she will have direction, training and structure.

FlabulousChix · 28/05/2015 13:48

Hat apprenticeship pay is scandalous it's just another way to get cheap labour . I wouldn't let my child do that.

Littlemonstersrule · 28/05/2015 13:50

Why would you not encourage her to do it? It doesn't sounds like she wants to finish the course or pursue that route and there's little to be made from beauty treatments anyway.

Her CV will need a decent boost after two failed courses, if she sticks this she will be trained and have a reference.

Surely you want her to aim high rather than end up on benefits or just working a few hours a week?

Original poster
ghostspirit · 28/05/2015 13:52

maybe... but if she got sack for not turning up being late or what ever it be everyone elses fault not hers...but then i guess that would be the case for any situation.

maybe i should just leave her to it. its not like shes in danger or something. maybe learn herselfweather good orbad

OP posts:
rubyroux · 28/05/2015 13:56

Can't recommend apprenticeships highly enough! It might just be the structure she needs being in a proper working environment. I was such a lazy thing at college but when I got my apprenticeship and went into the working environment it really changed my attitude towards work.

ruby1234 · 28/05/2015 13:59

FlabulousChix Thu 28-May-15 13:48:49
Hat apprenticeship pay is scandalous it's just another way to get cheap labour . I wouldn't let my child do that.

While I agree the apprentice salary is very low, it is low because the apprentice (generally) knows nothing about the job and is being paid to learn.

My DS did an apprenticeship at a solicitors office in the finance department, earning around £100/week. He learnt lots of things. They paid for him to go on an accountancy course which he passed and they have now kept him on permanently. Yes, only on the minimum wage, but they are paying for him to do a higher accountancy course from September. He has real career prospects, some good qualifications and a job he enjoys.

He could have gone to Uni, got a big debt and a degree, and still not got a job at the end of it. He is really happy to be in full time employment and very thankful he did the apprenticeship.

What I am trying to say is, just because the initial pay is very low, there are prospects, and in my experience, the apprentice scheme can be a very good thing.

IKnowIAmButWhatAreYou · 28/05/2015 14:04

apprenticeship pay is scandalous it's just another way to get cheap labour . I wouldn't let my child do that.

Hmm, my son has been earning money for the past 4 years while his mates at uni have been racking up debts that'd make me cry. He's got his own car, savings and can afford to go out for weekends away.

The apprenticeship finishes soon & he then goes onto "proper" wages.

His plan is to have his own place in the next couple of years.

I honestly can't recommend it enough!

Sallystyle · 28/05/2015 14:05

I have just applied for an apprenticeship at the ripe age of 33 as this looks like the best way for me to get a job as a clinical healthcare assistant. The money is crap but I figure it payoff in the end.

I would encourage your dd to do it. It might be the making of her.

cuntycowfacemonkey · 28/05/2015 14:07

DH has had an apprentice before, it's not cheap labour. The responsibility of having an apprentice in DH's industry is huge. Plus DH had to pay him to attend college 1 day a week, pay his exam fees, provided him with tools, heavily supervise his work and deal with the frustrations that come with training someone (especially someone clearly not suited to the job!)

It's very difficult to fire an apprentice too so there is some security there for your dd

Hellolemonade · 28/05/2015 14:08

An apprenticeship to do office work...please. Apprentices should be learning a specialist skill. Why does she just not get a job as an office junior she'll learn all she needs and will be paid a fare wage. I was persuaded to do an "apprenticeship" - (read NVQ) in retail when i was 17. I got paid about 2pounds an hour was in the shop from 8am-10pm some days and I learnt nothing that I couldn't have learnt working a Saturday job for minimum wage. I quit after seeing a note in the managers office from a supervisor saying how much she "loved NVQs" as we were like slave labour...yes I'm still angry about it 15 years later...

cuntycowfacemonkey · 28/05/2015 14:09

Plus I believe I'm right in thinking once the apprenticeship is completed employees are under some obligation to continue their employment, they can't just go 'right off you fuck' and replace them with another apprentice

LIZS · 28/05/2015 14:28

Is she likely to pass the beauty course of attendance has been poor , is it Level 1 or 2? Could she request those 2 days to attend college and finish the course while starting the apprenticeship.