34 replies to this topic

[Black.Ghost]

£3 per hour?! Holy crap I didn't think companies could get away with that anymore. For the hours you are putting in and the fact you have been messed around, I would be writing it all up and going to the CAB to find out where you stand legally. Take your time and document everything properly - any paperwork, contracts anything at all relating to this that you can get your hands on include as well. That sound like cheap labour to me and nothing more but I am not a legal expert. It might be worth telling the company/agency that you are seeking advice on this to see what their reaction is?

If you don't sort this now, the company will continue to exploit you, offering you nothing in return for your cheap labour and possibly doing the same for the next person. One of the lessons everyone has to learn in life is when to stand up for yourself and say no. Good luck, and let us know what the outcome is.

[Ethel]

Well £2.60 is perfectly legal, but unless it's properly monitored it is just a licence to exploit, and get a £1500 handout off the taxpayer.

If Steve is still reading, your employer is whoever pays your wages, and the act of paying you amounts to a contract. That "Apprentice Agreement" serves as your contract of employment and must specifically set out your terms, saying "as agreed" doesn't cut it.

As a minimum it should tell you:

• name of employer and employee
• date employment and continuous employment started
• job location
• pay and whether it weekly, monthly pay etc
• working hours
• holiday entitlement
• job description / job title
• details of any collective agreements that directly affect the employee's conditions of employment

Find a course you want to do and make a "Section 63D Application" to your employer,they'll have to give you the time off to attend, or given you a valid reason why not.

http://www.trainingzone.co.uk/anyanswers/section-63d-application

[Jamie_RoverMini35]

im doing an apprenticeship as a HGV mechanic and my pay was £2.60p/h but its now £3.50p/h also because i work more than 38hours per week i get quite a bit of overtime so its really isnt that bad and chances are if you go for another apprenticeship the pay will be the same because that's minimum for an apprentice

[Chance]

On that website I mentioned there were many apprenticeships offering 150+ a week

They are out there sonewhere :)

[matthew_leech]

I wouldn't knock apprentiships!

I am just out of my apprentiship with rolls Royce!

Year one pay was around 8k

Year 2 10k

Year 3 12k - sound a lot at 19, but renting a house having a mini and a daughter used all that up no trouble!

I didn't get any forth year pay as I got a job offered :)

Now at just 20 years old I am on very very good money, with a brand new company car, I have a national diploma and nvq level 2 and 3.

[mini-luke]

I'd argue that you are't receiving an apprenticeship, it's a bit woolly as to what actually constitutes one, here is HMRC's take

http://www.hmrc.gov....ual/esm1112.htm

Common theme being learning/being taught a trade, which in today's world would be doing an NVQ course or similar at a local college

[matthew_leech]

I'd argue that you are't receiving an apprenticeship, it's a bit woolly as to what actually constitutes one, here is HMRC's take

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/esmmanual/esm1112.htm

Common theme being learning/being taught a trade, which in today's world would be doing an NVQ course or similar at a local college

I would agree with this, Rolls Royce always say how much they invest in one apprentice, but its the external training and qualifications that they get government grants for.

It does sound, that your not receiving any training, amd as you say, seeming to be very cheap labour :/

[Shifty]

When I was an apprentice my first wage was £2.35 an hour, that was 22 years ago!!

[Shep76S]

This is one of the reasons why I am reluctant to look at apprenticeships, the funding the government pays to the company has got in to the wrong hands and is being used as 'cheap labour'. An example of this is I saw an apprenticeship for a bar person... I mean come on you don't need to do an apprenticeship for that sort of job, its just so they can pay you tuppence for long hours gaining no qualifications.

I currently work as a shop assistant and could work 15 hours a week and get paid £90, ok so your not gaining a qualification but what's appealing about apprenticeship that's only paying £3 an hour! you can't live off that!

Like others have said visit the apprenticeship website as I've seen some well paid ones.

The problem is that in 5 years time, you will still be an assistant on £90 per week. Do the right apprenticeship and you will be on much more money for the rest of your life. Sometimes you have to invest in your future.

[DeanP]

The problem is that in 5 years time, you will still be an assistant on £90 per week. Do the right apprenticeship and you will be on much more money for the rest of your life. Sometimes you have to invest in your future.

I agree, if/when an aprentice passes out as a fully trained plumber.. there's a lot of tut tutting to be done at a blocked sink unit. Also a lot of ££££'s to be earned tutting! lol.

[JustSteve]

hey guys. Thanks for all the support and help.. I feel like some are hearing that I'm complaining about the pay more than anything.

I knew the pay when I started, but my issue is that I'm having no training whatsoever- well I do, but so would any employee doing something for the first time!



My wages are paid through the agency, not the company (HPM)

[JustSteve]

well derby college were meant to come today... and they never turned up

So ive been shafted by west notts college.
shafted by south notts college
and now shafted by derby college TWICE!

I'm also being shafted by Tony de Villiers from 'futures nottingham' and both bosses from 'High performance mouldings Ltd'




I told my manager today a few things he didnt know about- We all hate him because he's a bit of a penis. But he genuinely seems to want what's right for me.




two people handed in their notice today and 8 others are currently looking for new jobs and most have had interviews. That will only leave me and a mother/daughter pair of lithuanians.

I'm technically now the most experienced in several areas... (on £3 remember) and for a start I'm the only person that can now use the quality control room. Nobody now knows how to use our furnace or use MIM either. Also there isn't a CNCist anymore and I was 'banned' from using it. That's our biggest customers that cant get any parts now. Mercedes and Astek. What a joke.

[mini-luke]

I'd be looking for alternate employment whilst you are still on £3/hr and make for the exit sharpish before the company goes bust

[JustSteve]

I'd be looking for alternate employment whilst you are still on £3/hr and make for the exit sharpish before the company goes bust

I am! I'm on a course just after Christmas not a college course or anything but a polymers course, besicly because there's nobody left to run the ship, I need to know a bit more. I'm going to make the most of that before I leave though, because that could mean the difference between me getting a decent job or getting another crap one.

Edited by JustSteve, 30 November 2012 - 09:29 PM.

[Ethel]

If he's approachable have a sensible conversation with him about your employment, if the agency is paying you it's likely he's paying them more.