DS 18 moving to London to do a degree apprenticeship from a Northern country village – advice sought re accommodation and socialising

[Apix]

We have just heard that our 18 year old son has been accepted on a degree apprenticeship in London starting at the end of August. (We thought we had another 3 years watching him trundle backwards and forwards to university so this is something of an upset for us – but that’s another story.) We live in a small country village in Lancashire so this will be a massive step and culture change for him. He is not very worldly but is quite sociable and has been to London a few times. The company where he will be an apprentice only takes 2 apprentices so perhaps not a lot of scope for socialising. He doesn’t know any other young people down in London. I think he is much more likely to settle if he is able to relatively quickly find a few friends, either through his accommodation or some other activity.

I have come across LHA London which seems to operate hostel type accommodation for young people. Has anybody any experience of this operation and which are the better hostels or anything else that may be suitable for a young person to live? (He is not entitled to any university accommodation.)

Also, the university which offers the (mainly remote) degree apprenticeship is not in London. Does anyone know if he will still be able to go along to any of the London university societies/events/bars etc. (He will be on a very low wage so I thought this might help stretch his finances as well as the key aim of getting to know people.) I would say his interests are drama, politics/debating/current affairs and mountain biking (appreciate that there won’t be much scope for the last one in London!)

If anybody has any other suggestions for helping him find his feet a bit, I’d be extremely grateful. (I thought Park Run may be a useful weekend one for him.)

www.chapter-living.com/properties/?creative=572182437977&keyword=chapter%20living&matchtype=e&network=g&device=c&gclsrc=aw.ds&&gclid=CjwKCAjwve2TBhByEiwAaktM1F5sHeJ_b_YwsmIv5kKsMkyowrZcUOogimtYvEv8ahzWDRzL82GH4RoCLRsQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Chapter housing might be an option, most students stay one year and then move out into shared accommodation. Seems there is a good social scene with bar, gym etc on site.

What about one of the co living companies?

I don't quite understand the debate about salary on grad schemes. The OP's son isn't starting a grad scheme, he's starting a degree apprenticeship at the age of 18. Getting paid £20k per year while studying for his degree is a great opportunity and puts him in a much better financial position than most London students.

OP I don't have any helpful advice I'm afraid as it's 20 years since I lived in London. In your son's position I think I'd ask both the uni and the employer if they could put him in touch with any previous apprentices on the same scheme who might have useful advice on accommodation and areas. And maybe ask the uni if he will be entitled to use any London student unions - I have no idea if there might be some kind of agreement.

Good luck - London is expensive but a really fun place to live in your 20s.

I would expect the DS to be on more than £20k as a grad.

OP explained that DS is starting a degree apprenticeship, so will qualify for a first degree in three or so years.

How is talk of recent graduates making their way in London relevant ?

The thing you have to remember is if you live further out it can be a quicker commute into London than actually living in an area of London.

I would look at the tube and rail stations nearest his office and then work your way down the line to see what areas look the most affordable and have a younger profile

Agree withe poster who said Muswell Hill is a bit of an older profile
Lovely area but more yummy mummy than teen/twenties

Most organisations running degree apprenticeships will be large enough to run a useful employee notice board, whether physical or virtual, which would be worth a look as shared rooms are very likely to be advertised there.

I've just been googling degree apprenticeships - as well as earning £20k per year there are no tuition fees to pay, which I suspected but wasn't certain of. Fabulous opportunity!

Also it appears many (maybe most?) student unions admit students from other unis to facilities and club memberships, as long as they have an NUS card so it would be worth your son checking he'll get an NUS card from uni and then maybe contacting the most convenient London unis to check he can join their clubs etc (including hopefully mountain biking) which would help sort his social life

Also would he qualify for housing benefit. Or Universal credit that covers housing benefit. I think it changed to all being under the umbrella of UC

Have you looked at Entitled To (I think it is called) to see what benefits he would be eligible for? That might help him.

Also look at commuting costs.
It is a balancing act between living further out or in a different zone and getting a cheaper rent to the more expensive rent but cheaper commuting costs If you live in the same zone.

Also remember if he is coming back to his accommodation after a night out look at where the night bus stops and how well the roads are lit and is it a busy area at 2am

I don’t know about mountain biking but I have visited Box Hill a few times and it always seemed to be awash with cyclists challenging themselves to cycle to the top.

I would also look at everywhere his money is going to be spent and making sure he joins the relevant scheme.

i.e NUS card, student or young persons travel card for trips back home
or weekly/monthly or annual travel card if he is doing a trip regularly.

Set him up with Cash back sites and supermarket cards to collect points every time he shops.

London I think is an expensive city but it also has a load of free or very cheap things that you can do if you know where to look

I'm sure information about grad schemes is very interesting but this thread isn't about a graduate, it is about an 18 year old on a degree apprenticeship and I would think £20k is a good salary for that.

I should have read page 3 before my post. I see two people have already addressed the issue.

@ancientgran
Maybe you should read my earlier comments! My first comment at 8.38 yesterday morning was to state exactly that!!! However I was then pushed back by a poster insisting that’s what grads get - £20k. I have been consistent that this is an apprenticeship and therefore NOT a grad salary level. Another poster said it was. I disagreed.

I have engaged fully with the question the OP raised and I know rent levels in London and have given ideas for locations. Try scrolling back to page 1 for that instead of arriving late to the thread.

It is still an issue that £20k doesn’t go far in London however good @ancientgran thinks it is. I have a flat in London and rent out a room. DD does the same. We are familiar with London rentals as opposed to not living in London for 20 years! Paying fees is neither here nor there on a £20k salary. No one does. But it will be great when he’s on £50k. Working near Westminster will mean quite a commute from anywhere with cheaper rents. As will getting out into the countryside for mountain biking (does he expect to do this very often?).

@Apix
I am truly sorry if you thought the conversation was derailed by me. I was really looking at it from a salary of £20k and I’m sure he won’t be on this for long! You might also like to know that some flat owners will do “rent a room” that’s tax free for them. It’s a lowish rent but valuable for high earners.

M Hill option sounds a good for starters whilst he finds his feet and then if he finds new friends and wants to live with them he could move out. Inner London is very expensive. he is quite young. I wonder if there is any kind of church type organisation that offers accommodation to young people in London and can keep an eye on them . At that age he almost needs a warden, a hall of residence, caring type set up. May be even a family. When my son started at Reading U aged 18 he was first put into one of 2 rooms on the top floor of a family house with the family below (until a place in halls came through after the first term) and that was a useful halfway house rather than being straight into an adult type tenancy.

Thank you so much again for all the useful advice to all posters and no need to apologise for any minor derailments as they were still very thought provoking to read.

Small update for anybody who is now remotely invested in my son's future wellbeing. He has now booked a place in one of the IHA hostels for the 1st few months - some of it in a shared room to keep the costs down. He has found one that is located 3 miles from his office such that he may be able to cycle a Boris bike across 2 parks to get there some of the time. (Here's hoping that St James Park is quite mountainous.) He is also hoping he may make some friends in the hostel.

Once there and having gained some familiarity with London, he can then start looking for a house share taking account of all your helpful suggestions.

Having something

Glad your DS is sorted @Apix - that sounds like a sensible move, and I really hope everything works out well for him.

Glad your Ds is sorted although I think he might be disappointed in St James’s Park😄.

That sounds a great idea. St James's park is quite flat and right near Green Park tube etc if I remember correctly but I am sure the cycle paths through London paths are lovely and he will have a good time.

He might also want to try to find some kind of clubs, sports or music or whatever he is into with other 18 year olds. London has something for everyone so I am sure he will find what suits him. A lot of boys from my sons' school which is in outer London go to university in London and had a great time.

I'm glad he's got something sorted @Apix - good luck with it all!