Need to leave my apprenticeship, notice period?

[AlexCabot]

I started an apprenticeship a few months ago but need to leave. I'm working 35 hours a week for £150 and we just can't manage anymore so I need to get something better paying.

I've got interviews lined up next week and hopefully will get an offer but I'm not sure how much notice I would have to give.

My employers don't know that I need to leave yet so I can't ask them.

Ideally I'd be out asap as the financial situation is currently quite dire but I don't want to completely stitch up my employer.
To be honest, they don't need an apprentice they need an administrator but don't want to pay for one.

Any ideas?

What does your contract say?

You need to check your contract for your agreed notice period. You may still be on probation, which usually shortens it.

Nothing, that's why I wondering. The apprenticeship handbook just talks about sickness absence and changing employers within the apprenticeship.

It's your employer you need to speak to - they employ you (set the terms and conditions). You being an apprentice is neither here nor there in this scenario.

Is it worth attempting to negotiate a raise? It sounds like they are paying you apprentice rates, they could pay you more (if they wanted/could afford to).

It may also be worth discussing options with your apprenticeship training provider, eg, they may know a better paying employer with a vacancy.

Not the handbook, the contract. Would have been called your apprenticeship agreement and signed by you and the emoloyer?

There is absolutely no prospect of a raise, I did mention how much we were struggling and the best they could do was offer me 10 hours a week cleaning for minimum wage. 45 hours a week for less than £250 is not going to work unfortunately.

It's a school so there's very little leeway with budgets.

I do feel that they've tried to fill a needed post on the cheap though. I'm supposed to have six hours a week in work to do the apprenticeship work but I never do because I'm given so much to do. I've ended up having to do it at the weekend which you're not supposed to.
I have spoken to them about this but my boss is very stressed and overworked themselves so I've not really got anywhere.

Are you or your employer paying for the apprenticeship?
If it is you employer you may have to pay it back as you will be quitting, it may be worth checking.
I am a working apprentice in a school but am on £9.50 an hr.

The school are expecting too much. £150 for 35 hrs a week. What’s the qualification.

If they’ve not given you a contract I’d assume notice in line with pay frequency. Weekly paid weeks notice etc.

Oh shit I hadn't considered that. My employer is paying for the apprenticeship.

So I could be in a position where I can't afford to stay but I can't afford to leave.

Paid monthly.

Sorry, my reply cut off. It's a business administration qualification. The interviews I have lined up are for administration roles.

Are you or your employer paying for the apprenticeship?
If it is your employer you may have to pay it back as you will be quitting

It is against DFE funding rules to make an apprentice pay for any part of their apprenticeship. Larger employers pay a levy that covers the cost of the apprenticeship. The government pays 90% of the cost for smaller employers.

I am fairly certain that costs paid for through the apprenticeship levy cannot be reclaimed- you would need to check this to be certain.

Geez back in 1998 I was paid more than that for doing my NVQ in business admin.

I'm supposed to have six hours a week in work to do the apprenticeship work but I never do because I'm given so much to do.

This is something else that's against the DFE funding rules for apprenticeship. It renders the training ineligible for funding plus you dont the requirements to be awarded the apprenticeship. If you weren't planning to leave away, I would suggest getting your apprenticeship training provider to speak up and sitting down with your employer with the apprenticeship training agreement that they signed up to.

You should have a regular contract with your employer and in that will state you notice period. Ask other staff at the he school what their notice pwriod is. Its unlikely that your employer is actually paying for the apprenticeship, but rather they are drawing money allocated to them from the government apprenticeship fund.

If there was ever expectation to pay it back I'd you leave, there should have been something for to toy ro sign to state this.

I am fairly certain that costs paid for through the apprenticeship levy cannot be reclaimed- you would need to check this to be certain.

We cross-posted but it is absolutely and definitely not allowed to charge an apprentice for their apprenticeship training.

Yeah, DH and I did think that we could swallow the poor wages for a year (after that I would be minimum wage) for the sake of career progression but the way things are going with cost of living it's become untenable.

Your employer can't ask you to repay any of the apprenticeship costs. I would speak to your training provider, explain that you want to look for alternative employment and they might be able to help you find a new employer to continue the apprenticeship with.

You won't owe anything. They absolutely can't reclaim the costs.

The training provider will want to avoid a withdrawal and to support you, they should be helpful to you. If not then you're better off leaving them anyway!

I saw the training provider today. Explained my situation ( and embarrassed myself but crying) and while she was very understanding, all she could do was suggest that I ask my employer for more money.

Which won't go anywhere as there isn't any more money.

What did she say about the fact you're not being given 20% of your working time for training?

Not a lot, surprisingly. The provider themselves seem to have a lot of issues right now with staff absence and the training has been quite chaotic.

She agreed that £150 a week for basically a full time job is ridiculous but can't help me and doesn't seem bothered that I won't finish.