Apprenticeships and getting pregnant

[GrannyHeadology]

Hi all,

Hoping someone can point me in the right direction.

With the new apprenticeship levy being introduced my manager has asked if I would like to do an apprenticeship, we are yet to do a formal talk through but have been asked to look at what sort of training is out there, I have my eye on a couple of apprenticeships that appeal to me and my current area of work. I'm really excited about the opportunity. However DH and I are currently trying for a baby. Putting off the baby isn't an option and obviously I can't discuss this with my employer.

I don't want to start an apprenticeship in a couple of months which is 18 -24 months long only to find out I can't continue it due to mat leave.

Does anyone know if I'd be able to put the apprenticeship on hold part way through whilst I am on mat leave, then pick up when I return to work part time?

TIA

In scotland you would be marked as a non completer and the training provider would then lose the funding

Thanks for coming back to me.

Apologies I should have said I was in England, not sure if it differs here, probably not though

I'm not sure about internal apprenticeships (although they may be able to put you "on hold") external apprenticeships tend to final final non-negotiable dates.

Non completers, apparantly, really reflect badly on the company.

I am starting one soon and the selection was very strict. Because they dont want people leavung half way through.

Have to say not sure if mat leave would make you a non completer though.

Hmm, I did an apprenticeship and got pregnant, it was totally fine.

I went back when LO was 3 months. I had the option of changing the HND to a HNC, or just completing my apprenticeship and then doing an additional year at the end to finish the HND.

I went with the HNC option and finished at the same time as the other 7 in my group. To be honest, the rest were male and a couple probably had more time off than I did due to various football/ rugby injuries.

So I suppose it depends on what your plans would be for maternity leave. I doubt you'd be allowed to complete it by taking 8 months off for example. It's probably something you'd need to chat to your employer about if and when it happened.

I'd think carefully though, I'm not sure how old you are but my apprenticeship really was my ticket into a stable and very well paying career. Would it not make more sense to get the apprenticeship out of the way and then have children? Staying up until 3am with a newborn and then having to go in the next day for a graded assessment, whilst also completing a log book and all the SVQ stuff outwith working hours is bloody hard. I did it as a single parent and it was incredibly difficult.

I should say though it was a 4 year apprenticeship in aerospace engineering, so if yours is only 18 months they might frown on you missing even 3 months of it? Also re-reading and you've said waiting isn't an option so apologies for suggesting that!

Thanks all for your advice. Not sure I can really chat it through with my employer as it's an mostly male environment and I dont think they will be too please with me being pregnant!!

My Mat leave would be 12 months so it's a fair chunk of time, however I would return on 3 days a week and would be happy to complete the apprenticeship.

Holding off on the baby isn't really an option, whilst I'm not ancient I will be 33 soon and don't want to be having a baby after 35.

I might see if there's a helpline for apprentices and see if they know anything!

Do you know how much training there is - for some its one day a week off the job training which might be problematic if your working 3 days. Personally I would still go for it - I took 7 years to get pregnant. I really hope that isn't the case for you of course

Hi,

I’d like to know how your situation ended up please. I’m in the exact same boat now and not sure which path to take