Apprenticeships need to be valued more

by davidcurtisgeorge

Apprentices are paid “exploitive” rates, according to the National Union of Students.

In a recent report, the Union claimed that apprentices cannot afford to travel to their place of work or study, or take any days off sick.

Currently, teenage apprentices in the United Kingdom work for £2.73 an hour. This means that for a 35-hour week (10am-5pm, Monday-Friday) they will earn £95.

The NUS claims that “Apprenticeships are often framed as a chance to ‘earn whilst you learn’. They supposedly offer a chance to gain a skill and a qualification whilst working in a ‘real ‘job with a wage. Yet for many apprentices their low wages quickly disappear on travel, rent and food.”

There are many different apprenticeships available to teens. But is there enough incentive to do them?

The government is considering raising apprentice pay by £1 an hour. Additionally, the three main parties have pledged their support for apprenticeship programmes.

However, it is obvious that this, realistically, isn’t enough. The National Union of Students say that this is a key factor in current youth unemployment figures.

Apprenticeship schemes should be giving people the opportunity to train a set of skills, in a working environment, under a decent wage. Unfortunately, the reality is that a McDonalds job is better paid.

These apprentices are training in specialist skills which are vital to everyday life. Engineering, plumbing, banking… it really raises the question: why do we, essentially, punish those who choose to do apprenticeship schemes?

It takes years of work and extensive economic knowledge to become a successful banker. So why do teenagers have to train for £2.73 an hour?

Its quite clear that there simply isn’t enough of an incentive to take up an apprenticeship. The pay isn’t good enough and there isn’t necessarily a guaranteed job at the end of it.

University students apply for loans which help them through their course. Within this loan is a grant, which doesn’t have to be paid back. Surely, it would make sense for apprentices to receive the same sort of grant, especially since they (typically) are contributing more to the UK economy, and at a younger age?

Additionally, apprenticeship schemes from established transnational corporations (HSBC, Atkins etc) should realistically offer jobs to those who graduate from these schemes.

Its about time that apprenticeships are taken seriously again; they contribute more to our society than we appreciate. The working people of tomorrow deserve the support today.