UK Failing Apprentice - What to do

[nicebutdim]

Well what would you call him? He did 2 years at college from 16 to 18, now he works for us. He is just a worker now like every one else. I call him an apprentice because an apprenticeship used to be 7 years long. We pay him NMW.

So he isn't serving an apprenticeship. Are you assisting him with gaining qualifications such as NVQ and the aim of completing the AM2 or is this just a cheap labour situation for a kid who probably sees this as a dead end working for people who despise him?

It's clear from your posts that you detest this kid, so I'd be surprised if he hasn't also arrived at the same conclusion.

 

[nicebutdim]

Just looked back at the thread you previously posted about this kid and note you mentioned having no idea what course he studied, not what qualifications he gained.

I think it's less a case of having lost interest in him and more a case of never having interest to begin with.

 

[littlespark]

We kinda skewed off at a tangent. We’re not talking about the OP apprentice now.

 

[Mike Johnson]

We kinda skewed off at a tangent. We’re not talking about the OP apprentice now.

Agreed, but we are now talking about the attitude of the employer to the apprentice, there is always two sides to any conflict.

 

[Taylortwocities]

Whatever, the apprentice is an employee like any other. This excellent guide will tell you what steps to take. Get it wrong and he/she could sue for wrongful dismissal.

Can I Sack an Apprentice?

Sacking an apprentice can be a difficult task. You need to understand, and act within, the boundaries of the law in order to avoid an appearance at an employment tribunal.

www.anapprenticeship.co.uk

 

[Mike Johnson]

Unfortunately that link does not lay out the procedure, just tells you that it's possible, See post 9 for the accepted procedure.

 

[7029 dave]

Mmm, I have read through the comments and understand both sides.
Oscar does have some valid points, its very different from when I started as a 15 year old kid in late 70s.
IMO age is irrelevant I loved and enjoyed the job money was rubbish but knew was gaining knowledge and learning a trade that would one day pay off thats the deal we all accepted that. (cheap labour)
I had something to prove to myself especially being told your a dunce at the age of 4 by some postwar old spinster school teacher that wrecked my confidence throughout my whole school years.
Its all very different today my own kids who are in their 30s now with children have a very different view and attitude to me so I cant even try to understand the younger generation.
I have trained up loads of kids in my time and also mature trainees some were great some we awful, what really used to get my goat up was when they tried to call the shots.

 

[littlespark]

Skewed off....

I meant to add, that the OP is named Poggy.... not Oscar.

We should be using this thread for Poggy's situation, as Oscars has been mentioned on another thread already... We're just repeating ourselves with it.

 

[Mike Johnson]

@poggy1951 The OP has not been back and told us how this apprentice is failing, so everything else is supposition.

 

[7029 dave]

Skewed off....

I meant to add, that the OP is named Poggy.... not Oscar.

We should be using this thread for Poggy's situation, as Oscars has been mentioned on another thread already... We're just repeating ourselves with it.

True but everybody was reacting to Oscars posts

 

[Mike Johnson]

I certainly was not and I think you will find it was only you, NBD and Oscar that were answering in the wrong thread.

 

[westward10]

Not everyone but I was guilty so let's keep it to the original question if he ever comes back.

 

[7029 dave]

What to do with a failing apprentice........ bin him but what are the legal problems that may arise.

OP are you a one-man band set up have asked previously.
Any contracts drawn up? lots of questions

 

[Midwest]

It’s different to do, but it’s often said you should treat people how you would expect them to treat you. Or how you would expect them to treat your siblings, like you would treats theirs.

The trouble is we humans tend to treat others as just an object, as opposed to a person, but it is a two way thing.

The OP (and Oscar) are/is running a business not a charity, but if it was my relative, I would expect something more than what they’ve suggested.

 

[Mike Johnson]

"Do unto others as thous would have them do unto you"

 

[Robson689]

If he’s been with you less than 2 years then you can get rid without a reason

Just give him notice in line with whatever you’ve put in his employment contract

 

[oscar21]

As most of you know I'm not very enthusiastic about taking on young people, I think they are a lost cause nowadays and none of them are any where near ready to be thrown into the middle of a working site, both on the physical side and the "banter" side of things.

Yet despite all that a fellow worker has been badgering me about giving his son a job with us as he desperately wants to become an electrician, he has just left school and apparently has got his place at college and is starting this September. So yesterday I let him come with us as the site was empty, firstly he turned up in trainers because his dad had "taken his boots" but hey ho, these things happen. He actually did ok, ran a few cables in, could use a hammer, that sort of thing and he seemed to enjoy it. I didn't push him too hard, didn't talk down to him, treated him as a grown up, we finished at 3PM and I even offered to drop him at home later so his mum didn't have to come and get him. Told him to come in a gain today and it would be more of the same.

This morning he was a no show, no phone call, text or anything.

 

[7029 dave]

As most of you know I'm not very enthusiastic about taking on young people, I think they are a lost cause nowadays and none of them are any where near ready to be thrown into the middle of a working site, both on the physical side and the "banter" side of things.

Yet despite all that a fellow worker has been badgering me about giving his son a job with us as he desperately wants to become an electrician, he has just left school and apparently has got his place at college and is starting this September. So yesterday I let him come with us as the site was empty, firstly he turned up in trainers because his dad had "taken his boots" but hey ho, these things happen. He actually did ok, ran a few cables in, could use a hammer, that sort of thing and he seemed to enjoy it. I didn't push him too hard, didn't talk down to him, treated him as a grown up, we finished at 3PM and I even offered to drop him at home later so his mum didn't have to come and get him. Told him to come in a gain today and it would be more of the same.

This morning he was a no show, no phone call, text or anything.

And he's starting college in September throwing away an opportunity. I started as a Saturday boy school holidays etc when I was 15years old back in 1979. Some of us knew what we wanted to be.

 

[nicebutdim]

As most of you know I'm not very enthusiastic about taking on young people, I think they are a lost cause nowadays and none of them are any where near ready to be thrown into the middle of a working site, both on the physical side and the "banter" side of things.

Yet despite all that a fellow worker has been badgering me about giving his son a job with us as he desperately wants to become an electrician, he has just left school and apparently has got his place at college and is starting this September. So yesterday I let him come with us as the site was empty, firstly he turned up in trainers because his dad had "taken his boots" but hey ho, these things happen. He actually did ok, ran a few cables in, could use a hammer, that sort of thing and he seemed to enjoy it. I didn't push him too hard, didn't talk down to him, treated him as a grown up, we finished at 3PM and I even offered to drop him at home later so his mum didn't have to come and get him. Told him to come in a gain today and it would be more of the same.

This morning he was a no show, no phone call, text or anything.

I might be inclined to give him another chance depending on the reasons for his no show. If there was to be another chance it would be accompanied by a lecture on common courtesy and the basics of what is expected of anyone wanting to work with me.

 

[ferg]

I might be inclined to give him another chance depending on the reasons for his no show. If there was to be another chance it would be accompanied by a lecture on common courtesy and the basics of what is expected of anyone wanting to work with me.

Me too He's just a kid at 16 probably no idea as to what's expected.
I'm sure lots of the folks on here were great apprentices, I wasn't... needed a few second chances before I found my feet.
Having said that I worked for a big company that could afford to do so.
Without knowing any details maybe offer him a weeks trial if you are so inclined, pay him on Thursday and if he turns up on Friday you'll have a good idea on where he's at