Those of you with apprentices

[rpm]

The chances are that they have already decided what the rate will be so the idea is to get them to play their cards first so have some words ready so your not the one asking.
One thing I would do though is to come out out of the meeting knowing what they expect of you going forwards.

 

[jaydebruyne]

The chances are that they have already decided what the rate will be so the idea is to get them to play their cards first so have some words ready so your not the one asking.
One thing I would do though is to come out out of the meeting knowing what they expect of you going forwards.

Sounds like a plan!! I guess I'll figure out what my bare minimum is to scrape by in terms of money and see if their figure falls along the same lines. If not I'll discuss it with him and see what he says. And having the expectation convo is definitely a great idea, for both of us really. At the end of the day as much as he's doing me a favour in terms of training, he's also gaining an extra pair of hands even if it is tidying up and doing small jobs.

 

[rpm]

Just stay humble jay after all he is doing more for you than you for him at this stage, hope you gonna come back and tell us how it went.

 

[jaydebruyne]

Just stay humble jay after all he is doing more for you than you for him at this stage, hope you gonna come back and tell us how it went.

Very true indeed. Humility is my first, middle and last name rpm. Actually my middle name is Unconfident lol but I'll get there in the end.. I just want to be the best plumber I can be for me and my family (just found out I'm gonna be a dad!!) eek!

Yeah will do.. Fingers crossed. Thanks for the advice mate, much appreciated

 

[Rickster123]

Very true indeed. Humility is my first, middle and last name rpm. Actually my middle name is Unconfident lol but I'll get there in the end.. I just want to be the best plumber I can be for me and my family (just found out I'm gonna be a dad!!) eek!

Yeah will do.. Fingers crossed. Thanks for the advice mate, much appreciated

Sod the work, congratulations mate!

 

[rpm]

Your gonna be a dad, thats brilliant news mate congrats to you both and if it was me tomorrow I would keep that back as a Plan B to pull on their heart strings if required, if not required then tell them as you get up to leave.

 

[Masood]

(just found out I'm gonna be a dad!!)

NEVER leave a pipe uncapped FFS! Open ends are asking for trouble.

Many congratulations!

 

[jaydebruyne]

Cheers We're both really excited!!!

 

[jaydebruyne]

NEVER leave a pipe uncapped FFS! Open ends are asking for trouble.

Many congratulations!

Hahaha too late!! Cheers mate

 

[helpsy]

Congratulations

 

[jaydebruyne]

Ok so I just had the meeting with the owner of the firm and I'm on board on an apprentice wage (£2.80ph) *hurrah*

I'll be using my own van for now while I prove myself and he's also going to get me through my gas qualifications to become gas safe.

I'll start out doing 2-3 days a week on my own doing simple jobs and the rest of the time learning by shadowing other engineers.

I'm really pleased and also a bit nervous as I'm out on my own tomorrow *eek* but I'm looking forward to the challenge!!

 

[Masood]

Ok so I just had the meeting with the owner of the firm and I'm on board on an apprentice wage (£2.80ph) *hurrah*

I'll be using my own van for now while I prove myself and he's also going to get me through my gas qualifications to become gas safe.

I'll start out doing 2-3 days a week on my own doing simple jobs and the rest of the time learning by shadowing other engineers.

I'm really pleased and also a bit nervous as I'm out on my own tomorrow *eek* but I'm looking forward to the challenge!!

Congratulations on getting the job but I think you could have tried negotiating a dual rate - maybe national minimum wage for the days you're out on your own, and apprentice wage for the time you're shadowing.

Otherwise your solo days will actually cost you to go to work when you factor in diesel, servicing, road tax etc.

 

[jaydebruyne]

Congratulations on getting the job but I think you could have tried negotiating a dual rate - maybe national minimum wage for the days you're out on your own, and apprentice wage for the time you're shadowing.

Otherwise your solo days will actually cost you to go to work when you factor in diesel, servicing, road tax etc.

Cheers mate.. He's going to pay for my diesel and parking but yeah Maybe I could have. I believe though using my van is only for the short term. I'll just have to play it by ear and see how it goes. I can always speak to him if things are not balancing correctly.

 

[Masood]

Cheers mate.. He's going to pay for my diesel and parking but yeah Maybe I could have. I believe though using my van is only for the short term. I'll just have to play it by ear and see how it goes. I can always speak to him if things are not balancing correctly.

Well if he's paying your diesel then it's not too bad in the short term. Keep a log of what jobs you've done, skills acquired, problems encountered and solved, times you've taken the initiative, times you've won extra work for him. Use that record to negotiate better terms in the future. Any decent boss will be happy to reward a good worker but you need to prove that you're doing something for him.

 

[jaydebruyne]

Well if he's paying your diesel then it's not too bad in the short term. Keep a log of what jobs you've done, skills acquired, problems encountered and solved, times you've taken the initiative, times you've won extra work for him. Use that record to negotiate better terms in the future. Any decent boss will be happy to reward a good worker but you need to prove that you're doing something for him.

That's a really good idea.. I'll do that! Cheers

 

[Rickster123]

If he's got you shadowing an engineer during the day then the £2.80 is fair enough. If you're out on your own working for him then he's taking the proverbial in my opinion and it's slave labour. I'm bound to be shot down for that comment but I stand by it.

 

[Ray Stafford]

If he's got you shadowing an engineer during the day then the £2.80 is fair enough. If you're out on your own working for him then he's taking the proverbial in my opinion and it's slave labour. I'm bound to be shot down for that comment but I stand by it.

I agree with Adam.

If you're good enough to work solo, then you are good enough to be paid for it. Apprentice rate is supposed to reflect the fact that apprentices don't contribute much. And they certainly don't supply their own van and tools. I don't want to knock you, because its hard enough to get a start in this game, but I also think your new boss is taking the proverbial.

 

[Millsy 82]

Stupid question but can you be a 37 year old apprentice? I would of thought you would have to be on minimum wage at least just because of your age?

 

[mfgs]

Stupid question but can you be a 37 year old apprentice? I would of thought you would have to be on minimum wage at least just because of your age?

If you are in the first year of your apprenticeship then the minimum wage is £2.73, after the first year of you are over 19 then you need to go on to the minimum wage for your age.

So are you actually at college enrolled on an apprenticeship? You said you have your level 2 already, was that from an apprenticeship or just a full time college course?

 

[jaydebruyne]

If you are in the first year of your apprenticeship then the minimum wage is £2.73, after the first year of you are over 19 then you need to go on to the minimum wage for your age.

So are you actually at college enrolled on an apprenticeship? You said you have your level 2 already, was that from an apprenticeship or just a full time college course?

*sigh* I'm not enrolled onto college, i finished my L2 technical cert in July. I got the L2 on a course but didn't shadow anyone as part of the course.

 

[mfgs]

*sigh* I'm not enrolled onto college, i finished my L2 technical cert in July. I got the L2 on a course but didn't shadow anyone as part of the course.

Then he cant legally pay you under £6.50 an hour I think. If you aren't enrolled on an apprenticeship scheme then he cant be paying you as an apprentice.

 

[jaydebruyne]

Then he cant legally pay you under £6.50 an hour I think. If you aren't enrolled on an apprenticeship scheme then he cant be paying you as an apprentice.

Really? :/ I'm going to just have to suffer it for a while I think. It's an opportunity to learn which I'm not getting elsewhere right now, plus at some point soon I'll get to do my gas as well. So it kind evens itself out a little...

 

[Ray Stafford]

Then he cant legally pay you under £6.50 an hour I think. If you aren't enrolled on an apprenticeship scheme then he cant be paying you as an apprentice.

I think you are right. You can't just call someone an apprentice to justify low pay - it must be a recognised apprenticeship. Otherwise, national minimum wage applies.

 

[R.Oak]

Really? :/ I'm going to just have to suffer it for a while I think. It's an opportunity to learn which I'm not getting elsewhere right now, plus at some point soon I'll get to do my gas as well. So it kind evens itself out a little...

Unlikely to be some time soon i would have thought. He will probably want you get some experience if general plumbing under your belt first.

 

[jaydebruyne]

Unlikely to be some time soon i would have thought. He will probably want you get some experience if general plumbing under your belt first.

Yeah I thought that, but he rang a course provider while I was with him about booking me on the course. I'll just see what happens. I'm focussing on now and learning and doing my best at what jobs he gives me first. I'll evaluate the pay etc later on down the line.