Offering Employment When an Apprenticeship Ends

When your apprentice’s scheme comes to an end you have two choices. Either you can let them go out into the big wide world and find employment elsewhere, or you can offer them a permanent job. This will obviously depend on how good your apprentice is and whether you feel they have been an asset to the company.

It is worth considering the time and energy you have put into them and whether you would have to train someone new. If you decide you want to keep them but there is no obvious job opening then you may have to consider creating a role for them.

Deciding Whether To Keep An Apprentice

When you take on an apprentice you have no obligation to keep them on once their apprenticeship ends. However it can make sense to do so. You will have a spent a lot of time and energy training them up and teaching them the ropes of the company.

As you have found them early on, they will have learnt things in a way that suits you company and it can be difficult to replicate this with a new employee. Obviously if they have been a poor apprentice then you will not want to offer them employment on but it is always worth considering.

Filling a Job With An Apprentice

If you decide to offer your apprentice permanent employment then there are a few issues you need to consider. Firstly you need to think about whether they are the best person to fill the role and if there are better candidates.

Also think about what other employees may think about your decision and if it could breed resentment. Finally, you want to make sure that your apprentice is clear about the different responsibilities that come with full time employment and what will be expected of them.

Creating An Employment Opportunity

If there isn’t an employment opportunity available but you are keen to keep your apprentice then you may want to create a role for them. It seems wasteful to lose their skills and experience because there is no set employment for them. Consider how they could fit into your current structure and if there are any gaps that could do with plugging. Also, talk to your apprentice about what they want and how they see their role developing.

Employment Contract

If you decide to offer your apprentice permanent employment then you will need to draw up a new employment contract. Be clear about the differences between this and their apprenticeship, and what their role and responsibilities are.

When offering them a new job you will also have to consider raising their salary to something that is competitive with other jobs that they could go out and get.

Taking your apprentice into permanent employment can be a good move as it means you are not losing the skills and experience that you have given them. They have been trained in a way that suits your company and can be an asset. If there isn’t a specific job available then you may want to think about creating one.

Consider what this impact this move will have on other employees and make sure your apprentice is clear about their new role and responsibilities.