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Supporting Your Son or Daughter Through an Apprenticeship

By: J.A.J Aaronson - Updated: 1 Mar 2019 | comments*Discuss
 
Apprentice Support Parents

Apprenticeships are a fantastic way for individuals to get valuable training, while building a solid academic base. They allow young people to learn a craft, and often form the stepping stone that leads to a long-term career.

But apprenticeships are also hard work, and can mean individuals work for comparatively little money. So as a parent, how can you help your son or daughter find an apprenticeship – and get the most out of it?

Finding an Apprenticeship

The first step on the road to an apprenticeship is finding a suitable vacancy. This can be a lengthy and difficult process, particularly if your son or daughter wishes to enter a very specialised field.

The National Apprenticeship Service provides an online portal that lists apprenticeship vacancies across the country. This website should be your first port of call if your son or daughter wishes to start an apprenticeship but is unsure where to look.

Do remember, though, that some firms choose to advertise their vacancies elsewhere. Make sure that you look in local papers and in other media, particularly if your son or daughter intends to take on a position in the area in which you live.

Financial Support

Although apprenticeships are paid positions, you may find that your son or daughter struggles for cash. Apprentices are entitled to the minimum wage but, in many cases, this will not be sufficient. This is particularly true in cases where the apprentice requires special equipment to do their job; depending on circumstances, the employer may not provide everything your son or daughter needs.

Financial support is therefore often one of the most important things that you can give. For example, many apprentices choose to live at home while completing their training, before returning to education or entering the world of work as a conventional employee.

Depending on the field in which your son or daughter is working, there may be further funding available from business or non-profit organisations. Talk to your son or daughter’s learning provider for more information on this.

Educational Support

A relatively large proportion of your son or daughter’s time will be spent in off-the-job training. This has become an increasingly important element of the modern-day apprenticeship, and provides apprentices with a firm academic foundation equivalent to GCSEs, A Levels or a Foundation Degree, depending on the level of apprenticeship.

Some apprentices find this element of the training the most difficult. Indeed, many chose to enter apprenticeships in an effort to escape classroom-based learning. Educational support may therefore be important to your son or daughter. Again, you may wish to contact the learning provider to find out what support you can offer, and what your son or daughter will be studying.

Next Steps

For many, the hard work begins when an apprenticeship is complete. Depending on circumstances, there may not be a guarantee of conventional employment at the end of the training, and your son or daughter may therefore need support in finding a job.

It is important to remember, though, that many apprentices choose instead to return to education. You may therefore wish to be prepared to help your son or daughter find a suitable course or institution at the end of their training.

Apprenticeships can provide young people with an invaluable opportunity to garner new skills and, if they so wish, begin a career. Family members can help this process along by offering support as and when it is needed.

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Hi I'm writing on behalf of my son Matthew. Matthew is autistic and been doi ng apprenticeship in lt at British telecom for over a year now. He really loves working there done the training and everything. He has to reply for apprenticeship in January which he has and no reply. It seems like this has been going on to long he's support worker that works with him has told him to ask for job at job centre while he's waiting I worry that he's put all that work in with BT and no job at the end of it. He's so depressed about it all. He's gone back in he's own world. And stays in bedroom. I'm worried for him he's 22 yrsMrs algar
Buzzlightyear - 13-Jan-17 @ 9:05 AM
Two apprenticeships two very different outcomes. I have two adult children with a good work ethic they both enjoy their jobs. One secured a permanent job with the employer before completing the first year apprenticeship and is still now making great progress. The other has completed the first year of a two year fixed term customer service apprenticeship day by day I am witnessing it destroy them. They work alongside full time full pay employees doing the same work. The employer allowed them to apply for their jobs alongside external applicants and other apprentices and has advertised the jobs twice, they did not fill all the open posts in the first round. Two apprentices have been employed. Others including my son were unsuccessful the decision on whether they secured the job or not was supposedly based on how they performed in less than 50 minutes at a team event. He has received no negative feedback this past year, no warnings written or otherwise. He clearly is left with no choice but to find a job elsewhere, why would they employ him in a years time when they won't now. I would question why it was set up as a two year apprenticeship in the first place. I don't think the aprentiship training provider or employer has any idea of what they are doing to these hard working and responsible young people. He and we are heartbroken. This can't be right!
Karen - 8-Apr-16 @ 7:49 AM
My son is doing a apprentice in a fast food chain he us 17is pay is very low .is he intilted to extra money he has to buy a bus pass every fortnight ,is there any thing hecan claim.
ang - 18-Jan-16 @ 1:47 PM
We as many parents would like to support our daughter through her apprenticeship, however this could mean her living in a big city or traveling on a daily basis both have huge cost which we would struggle to support. Our other daughter need financial support for uni as she is unable to receive a full maintenance grant. Is there any help for parents regarding financial support. We truly want to support both our children but it's becoming increasingly difficult.
maggie - 4-May-15 @ 10:27 AM
I have today looked through your site and have found it quite informative; however I would like to make a comment regarding the role of parents when supporting their child in an apprenticeship which is becoming increasing like a bullying case in the making.I as a parent have tried to open up communications with the employer only to be advised that my daughter is not a child (still 16 ) and as such my request has been denied.I would appreciate your thoughts on this.regardsA Cullen
N/A - 11-Apr-12 @ 3:26 PM
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