Apprenticeship Withdrawn

[Perplexed20]

Not sure why I'm writing apart from maybe to vent.
Ds applied for a degree apprenticeship with the civil service. Tests and interview in April. He applied with A level results in hand. A*AA (requirement is CCC).They took until the end of June to let people know. He was told successful and then yesterday they withdrew his offer and put him on the reserves list (dept he was allocated now not doing). He does have a uni offer but in a different subject he's now not sure about.
Anyone had experience of this? Any advice. He's pretty upset and want to support him in making the right decision for him.

When he speaks to the CS next week as well as asking for reallocation he could ask for them to give him a deferred apprenticeship in a different department if the headcount has been filled for this year - so a guaranteed offer of one for next September?

I think he's going to do that. He is in a better place. He told me he has no control over it so needs to just focus on what he can.

Such a mature response - ideal for the CS

How could he have been overqualified? Does he have more than a levels?

Warwick? Superb uni!!

I ask for the nhs job.
and you think that’s outing
bizarre

It's your fixation that's bizarre @Itsthe1st

I work in the CS and we employ lots of people - including school leavers - on 1 Yr fixed term contracts. Usually entry level admin roles. I assume the NHS does the same.

@Perplexed20

I was just browsing 'The Times' and noticed a recent article on apprenticeships, OP.

I subscribe so can read it, but you may be able to see it without subscribing.

www.thetimes.com/business-money/companies/article/uk-100-best-apprenticeship-employers-nhbb5psd3

It was a non degree apprenticeship. He didn't even get a response so I assumed (maybe wrongly) that they thought he wouldn't stick to it.

Thanks. I'll have a look. I'll see if I can do a trial subscription.

It would be the equivalent of just beyond A levels - hence non degree. You needed gcses not A levels.

Sorry wrong quoted post - this relates to the Lloyds apprenticeship.

My neighbour’s son go one of the Lloyd’s non degree Cyber and Information apprenticeships

He has been accepted in to Oxford to study maths with top grades across the board at a levels and had been head boy.

It is fiercely competitive.

My DS had one offer - a large UK company - passed all the assessments and received a letter to say he'd be offered an apprenticeship and next step he would be invited to a training week and not to worry if he waited a while as they schedule these things regularly throughout the year.

Then, suddenly, got a letter saying sorry there are no more places at these training weeks. Good luck with your future!!

Luckily he was offered another by someone else.

The C grade requirements doesn't mean A stars are over qualified. They are looking for all sorts of skills, not just academic, so they set the minimum academic requirement. That doesn't mean everyone passing their internal assessments and interviews and receiving offers will have those lower grades - many will probably have much much higher . There really are some smart, knowledgeable, cookies out there that pull off academic C Grades - quite likely they are ND. The internal assessments are designed to pick the right people.

Does he have any friends going to Warwick? Has he looked around? It really is fabulous (yes, I went there 😆)

You are all quite right. I know they are fiercely competitive. The Lloyds one was the only one he heard nothing at all from. With the others he got down to the final interview. The CS was the one he was offered (but then it went pear shaped).

Re Warwick - no friends went there.

How’s he doing OP?
I’m absolutely flabbergasted that this has happened to him. Such a kick in the teeth after all the incredible hard work that goes into getting these hugely competitive apprenticeships.
He’s right to not rush into something ‘that’ll do’. He’s 18, and although he may think he’s a year behind he really isn’t. He’s a smart lad, who’s showing incredible resilience and taking his time looking at various options.
Did he get a response from his email? Did he try calling?
DD2 looked at that Warwick degree a few years ago and it is rather spectacular - didn’t apply due to grades. Has he gone off the idea of that particular degree? Or is it the whole ‘going to uni’ he’s not interested in?
It does sound as though he just wants to get cracking with his career now. Is that it?

Hes doing well. He did get an offer and was asked to make a decision quickly. He pushed back (he would have to move and he wants to keep his support network) and has now managed to talk to someone. He is at the top of the reserves list. I think he might take the not ideal option. He has asked to be considered for others but I'm worried they will go tick, done. There is no deferring, he'll have to apply again.

I think the Warwick option is the best, but its not up to me. I think going to uni just doesn't appeal.

When asked to make a decision quickly - I mean in less than 24 hours to move to another part of the country in a dept he hadn't considered.

Get the degree. I only hire people in my team who have a degree. Our new grad starting salary is £36k this year.

Its a degree apprenticeship - he will still get a degree.

This is a civil service role and they were saying he had to decide within 24 hours whether to accept a job that would require a move across the country?

Yep. Actually much less. 5 pm email decide by noon the next day.
If we weren't living through it I'm not sure I'd believe it. He is pretty resilient, which is just as well. I am a bit worried about him moving, starting a new job and studying all at the same time - without all the pastoral support that's now available at uni (very different from when I went).

So he accepted it?

My youngest did a CS placement year in 2023/24 and the degree apprentice in her team had been allowed to switch office after the 1st year to be nearer home. That might be a possibility for your DS.

DD is rejoining CS on graduation although won't know where until 8 weeks before she starts. Did your DS have to give location preferences?

He managed to speak with someone. He said that he' has asked to be still kept on the list if something nearer comes up. He now knows he's first reserve

@PearlStork thats good news. Yes he did give preferences for both location and dept. Because it was withdrawn he's got neither. And I secretly think he's ended up with the worst placement (hence why its now available - im not saying where ) hey ho.

Hopefully there will be some movement and he'll get another offer. My DD has definite department preferences too but at least on her scheme they switch each year whereas apprentices stay for duration.