What to do next?

[Ella]

I am coming to the end of my apprenticeship in arboriculture; although I do not know exactly when - the college cannot even narrow it down to within a month; but I expect to have completed it by april-june . I work in forestry on an estate, and am therefore covered by agricultural minimum wages - 4.92/hour now, but as soon as my apprenticeship is finished I would be entitled to craft grade - 8 something/hour. the estate will not pay this and therefore I will lose my job. I will also lose my flat shortly after, as the estate own it and need it for the new apprentice. Ideally i want to have lined up a new job to start as soon as I finish this one, but without knowing when I will finish, this is not easy. Any advice on how to make the transition as smooth as possible would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Ella

[DrewB]

move overseas and see the world whilst job humting. always seems easier when your away from home as money issues seem to be easier to handle ie youve constantly got none but if you stay in backpackers your not the only one.

[skyhuck]

Do you pay rent on the flat?? or is it classed as part of your wage??

 

Minimum wage plus accommodation does not sound to bad.

[PeteB]

My thoughts exactly. If, however, you do pay rent of any kind, how can they throw you out? Surely even a "tide"cottage renter gets a certain amount of notice.

 

Arbtalk does have a "job hunter" section, post your details on there and every other site that is known to man. Ring all the companies based in the area that you will be living in. Get on yer bike!

 

Good Luck.

[Andy Collins]

Though I can understand that they need to make room for a new apprentice, hence you need to vacate the flat, surely this makes a mockery of the apprenticeship scheme. The whole idea of training an apprentice is to bring newly-skilled people into the industry, and give them a future within your business? Surely the employer was aware of the change of pay grade upon completion of training?

On the flip-side, the OP has benefitted from training and experience in the trade, and low-cost accommodation during this period, and is now better qualified for a job elsewhere, though quite where this will be in this climate is hard to say.

[David Humphries]

Though I can understand that they need to make room for a new apprentice, hence you need to vacate the flat, surely this makes a mockery of the apprenticeship scheme. The whole idea of training an apprentice is to bring newly-skilled people into the industry, and give them a future within your business? Surely the employer was aware of the change of pay grade upon completion of training?

On the flip-side, the OP has benefitted from training and experience in the trade, and low-cost accommodation during this period, and is now better qualified for a job elsewhere, though quite where this will be in this climate is hard to say.

 

 

We're in the same boat Andy.

Both ourselves here at Hampstead & Epping only have the apprentices for 1 year - 18 months.

Then off they go in to the big wide world with their newly aquired skills & tickets.

 

Not the ideal imo, & certainly not quite the same as in my day, when after the initial three year apprenticeship I'm now in my 25th year. Similar to a number of other colleagues who also took the same route.

 

Times have sadly changed. Buisness does not appear to look very far ahead these days.

 

 

Sorry to hear that your opportunity is coming to an end Ella. I wish you good luck on the next part of your journey.

 

 

 

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[ging]

move overseas and see the world whilst job humting. always seems easier when your away from home as money issues seem to be easier to handle ie youve constantly got none but if you stay in backpackers your not the only one.

 

nice philosophy....

[Andy Collins]

We're in the same boat Andy.

Both ourselves here at Hampstead & Epping only have the apprentices for 1 year - 18 months.

Then off they go in to the big wide world with their newly aquired skills & tickets.

 

Not the ideal imo, & certainly not quite the same as in my day, when after the initial three year apprenticeship I'm now in my 25th year. Similar to a number of other colleagues who also took the same route.

 

Times have sadly changed. Buisness does not appear to look very far ahead these days.

 

 

Sorry to hear that your opportunity is coming to an end Ella. I wish you good luck on the next part of your journey.

 

 

 

.

 

Well I find it a very short-sighted approach if thats the way it is these days. What future is there for these poor souls, and what future for this country? Poor show, old chap, poor show.

[Ella]

Thanks for all your responses

I do pay a small amount of rent on the flat - £25/week, and the wage i am on, considering that is fine, I have no complaints about it. but upon finishing my apprenticeship i would have to be payed the minimum wage for craft grade - £8.15/hour, which they will not pay. My tenancy agreement is 6 months long and was signed around 18 months ago, they now only need to give me 2 weeks notice to move.

On the whole I have been slightly dissapointed with the apprenticeship scheme, especially at the disorganisation of the college I attend, but the benefits outweigh any problems as i now have lots of tickets, most of which I got for free, and a fair amount of experience =]

Ella

[Frankie Lawrence]

Im in a similar situation ella. Im on an apprentership scheme due to finish this year and my job offer is no longer there full time, the company im with isnt offering a job. Ive decided to go self employed (free lance) and work for a few people including the firm im 'leaving'.

 

An apprentership is supposedly good on the cv so you have on benefit from it an employer likes to know that you ahve experience on the job aswell as college. do as others have said an start ringing around, post an ad on here and start praying.

 

wish you all the best