Clawback of training costs

[misssunshine4040]

Company offer a training course which required an application process.

This is a non accredited course run in house over a year.

The contract states full cost of training (which is over £1000 ) if employee leaves within 12 months and a sliding scale to 24 months.

if this was an professional qualification that was recognised and transferable, I believe that repayment is fair and just.
My issue is that it is not, and there is no opportunity to use the course towards further study or recognition in the industry and essentially only benefits the company by training their staff with the tools they need to effectively do their job.

IABU or is the company correct to charge upon early leaving?

So the question is, do you see a future with this employer? If you don't, then you'd probably be daft signing up for this UNLESS your personal circumstances preclude any likelihood of you moving on within two years.

@Neriah I fully understand if I go ahead and agree then I will be liable to pay if I need to but my query was whether they should even be charging us for a course that's no real value outside the company.

I don't think it's a simple as saying it will good on your CV as other employers won't know what level the course is or the quality of training therefore not really worth much

You'd be surprised at what's valuable OP, or how quickly word gets around in an industry. Not having 'official accreditation' doesn't mean worthless.
In fact, some companies' in-house training is actually worth a lot more than 'paid' training delivered by so-called experts who only have theoretical knowledge.
I work in tech and some companies have structured mentoring/secondment programs that are quite competitive even for internal employees. Simply because anybody can go onto Coursera and learn 'X tech'. Pay to get a cert after doing some quizzes. Or even do some professional exams.
But very few have the practical experience with large systems, at scale, which is the real challenge. Not memorising a bunch of facts that a senior engineer can look up when they need it.
As a result the training is very valuable and a real CV boost.

You haven't told us anything about this course. We don't know whether you're right, and it's worthless. Or whether it's a scenario like the one I stated. You keep changing your story too. At first you said it was tools needed for the staff to do their job. Then you said it's just for people to be 'potentially considered' for some roles in the business. Those are two very different scenarios.

But apparently people are paying for it... so... some people find it a good deal, clearly? You didn't even say that it has to be done to get promoted. So I don't see what the issue is. it's the same as if the company decided to sell a purple unicorn plushie for £400. It may be overpriced but nobody's forcing you to buy it. So what's your problem?

Sorry I haven't meant to be deliberately unclear, I just didn't want to be outing.
It's a management course designed for senior managers.
We have very little training/ mentoring in our roles so I feel the course would give us the tools to better perform in our roles for the benefit of the company.
There hasn't been a rush to sign up to it since the contract about payback was sent out and no it's not compulsory

The course looks great for my role but as it's in house and non accredited, I didn't want to be beholden to paying for it when it wasn't recognisable if l chose to move on.
I think that it should be training they provide as standard anyway but this is probably unreasonable hence my OP

Sorry, I thought I was being clear. There is no "whether they should charge". It is perfectly legal to charge, and forms part of your employment package and contract. It's worth to you in relation to other employers is not relevant. The only decision you get is whether you sign the contract or not.

@Neria, yes I fully understand this and have absolutely no issue with it.

I am fully aware that my employer is entitled to charge a fee and that I do not have to commit to the terms. That was my question

I was deciding whether I want to sign and commit to the course and it fees should I potentially leave or whether it is just not worth it for me.
I was musing that I find it a bit unfair to have fees attached to an in house, non accredited course that will not be recognised.

I agree with you OP. A non-accredited course that won't benefit you outside of this employment? I wouldn't be signing a training agreement. I have signed one with my current employer which is on a sliding scale for 3 years but it was a £2,500 course/qualification that was mainly for my own professional development so that's fine but no, in this situation I wouldn't do it.

To be fair, neither would I. Unless I was committed to the employer and it would benefit my promotion prospects. Like you I've previously signed one for a very expensive external course, but that was my desire.