Advice - apprenticeship

[Housetohome13]

Ds 17yo wants to take an apprenticeship.

He did fairly well in his GCSEs. Started A levels in Sept 24. Has completed the first year but has found it really difficult, he hasn’t wanted to put the effort and studying required in. Hasn’t enjoyed it, doesn’t want to go to Uni. He is due to start back on Monday for his second year and he was ok about going back but has now been offered a trial for an apprenticeship.

Over the Summer he’s being applying for apprenticeships. He’s now potentially been offered one but they want him to do two weeks unpaid trial to secure it. It would be 40 hours a week including one day a week at college. A 3 year level 3 apprenticeship. It’s engineering. He’s never shown any interest in this type of work before.

What would you think to this? I’m worried that he’s doing it on a bit of a whim because he doesn’t like sixth form. He’d have to miss 2 weeks of sixth form just to do the trial.

His pov is that he’s fed up of studying and he wants to earn some money.

I think apprenticeships are the way forward that sets him up in a trade for life.

Level 3 is a level equivalent qualifications though. I would certainly consider it.

Can he do the trial to include one week of half term?

Maybe, I’ll try to find out.

I’m just worried, but also feel it’s his life and he’ll resent me if I try to force him into what I think is best.

What kind of engineering?

I work with apprentices. The standards and the expectations are high. As are the salaries when they qualify, they will be doing very well for themselves.

I’d let him try, it’s not an easy ride. He’ll love it which would be great, or hate it and hopefully buckle down at sixth form because he understands the alternative.

Something to do with car engines. I don’t fully understand tbh.

The company does look reputable.

You are right in that the trial would help him decide as much as them.

I also work with apprentices and lots of employers want to hire for passion/enthusiasm/ willingness to learn so I assume that's what they'll be looking for during the trial. It's a big commitment for an employer to take on an apprentice, so they do want to make sure they've got the right person (2 weeks unpaid does sound like a lot though).

I did an apprenticeship and it gave me a career that I would never have got in another way.
I decided to change that career but the experience I gained served me well

An apprenticeship with no pay during the trial. That sounds illegal. I googled and AI said:

”No, generally it is not legal to offer an unpaid trial apprenticeship in the UKbecause performing actual tasks for an employer as part of a trial, even for an apprenticeship, usually means the person is considered a "worker" and is entitled to at least the National Minimum Wage (NMW). Unpaid trials are only permissible in very limited circumstances, such as genuine short-duration skills assessments or government-approved schemes like Jobcentre Plus Work Trials, and should not be used to gain free labour”

Hang on- this is a vehicle repair apprenticeship?
And they want him to do a two week trial?

This is a massive red flag. If they want to try him out, they should HIRE HIM for a few Saturdays.

They're looking for free labour

Oh dear.

So it’s not vehicle repairs. It’s building engines.

Its all on the .gov website. They’re hiring several apprentices.

Does it sound dodgy?

Apprenticeships are not always easy, and many require dedication and study. Some employers want to see how dedicated apprenticeship applicants are prior to starting, as the dropout rates can be high, especially for L3s. Ask a few more questions.