age and job applications

AHarvey · 28 Feb 2015 at 01:15

Hi,

I've recently emailed a local gas/plumbing company who are advertising 2 roles. 1 is for someone with experience and the other, an apprentice.

I emailed the provided address and as I've had him do work for me on a few occasion asked what the salary was for the apprenticeship because of my age i'd like to be able to plan if it is financially possible for me to apply.

The response I got simply stated "thanks for your mail but I'm after a School lever for the apprenticeship."

Anyone run into this kind of thing before? As far as I am aware apprenticeships pay pittance anyway and aren't directly related to age for the first year at least.

Mynight · 28 Feb 2015 at 01:18

Are you over 24 mate?

AHarvey · 28 Feb 2015 at 01:38

yep, 33

although they mention nothing of age limits on the .gov website

Mynight · 28 Feb 2015 at 01:44

Nah but between 16 and 24 they can get a grant of £1500 once the candidate completes 13 weeks. You might find the blokes just making use of the free money.

Considering he can do it up to 5 times. Say 30 hour week would cost £780(assuming overpaid wage) he could then presumably pocket the extra claiming the apprentice didn't work out.

I didn't look into it too hard as I'm not taking apprentices currently but I don't think there's any stipulation all the money has to go to the apprentice.

BDEE · 28 Feb 2015 at 10:16

In law employers are not allowed to discriminate based on age, just like with colour, religion, size etc.

In reality they do, just that most aren't daft enough to put it in writing.

MichaelAwkward · 28 Feb 2015 at 11:15

BDEE said:
In law employers are not allowed to discriminate based on age, just like with colour, religion, size etc.

In reality they do, just that most aren't daft enough to put it in writing.

They can discriminate by age for apprenticeships. That's the entire point of them.

mattyg · 28 Feb 2015 at 11:25

BDEE said:
In law employers are not allowed to discriminate based on age, just like with colour, religion, size etc.

In reality they do, just that most aren't daft enough to put it in writing.

There are a number of exceptions though

Kronos · 28 Feb 2015 at 11:28

BDEE said:
In law employers are not allowed to discriminate based on age, just like with colour, religion, size etc.

In reality they do, just that most aren't daft enough to put it in writing.

Yep they certainly do. I note that a few job application forms did not require you to give a date of birth and I have got as far as an interview but it is obvious that I am no spring chicken and even though I have an exemplary work record it was obvious that my age was against me and this was with a major post delivery company looking for seasonal staff.

pinkowl · 28 Feb 2015 at 11:40

They tend to want school leavers for few reasons. One is the grant that was mentioned and other is that if you are over 19 on your second year they need to pay you minimum wage where as anyone under 19 will only get the apprentice wage... Not every apprentice is like that though

Kenai · 28 Feb 2015 at 11:43

It's also easier to find a 16 year old who will just do all the crap jobs whilst not realising/caring he isn't learning anything useful

LeeUK · 28 Feb 2015 at 16:30

Sounds like he is one of those employers that just want to abuse the system. Take on a young skivvy and pay them a pittance without training them properly.

I once saw an apprentice delivery van driver job for some local builders merchants. 39 hour week for something like £88. What does that even train you!

Mynight · 28 Feb 2015 at 16:33

LeeUK said:
I once saw an apprentice delivery van driver job for some local builders merchants. 39 hour week for something like £88. What does that even train you!

Lmao. Poor sod

.

Some people really game the system dont they

.

Wont be long before subway offer apprenticeships.

Repta · 28 Feb 2015 at 16:42

LeeUK said:
Sounds like he is one of those employers that just want to abuse the system. Take on a young skivvy and pay them a pittance without training them properly.

I once saw an apprentice delivery van driver job for some local builders merchants. 39 hour week for something like £88. What does that even train you!

Retail jobs around me have started doing similar, though they do offer a Diploma in retail after a year so clearly all fine....

dowie · 28 Feb 2015 at 16:52

BDEE said:
In law employers are not allowed to discriminate based on age, just like with colour, religion, size etc.

In reality they do, just that most aren't daft enough to put it in writing.

there are some things that make it inevitable too I guess - if they require a certain level of experience in some areas then they're inevitably going to discriminate

dowie · 28 Feb 2015 at 16:55

LeeUK said:
Sounds like he is one of those employers that just want to abuse the system. Take on a young skivvy and pay them a pittance without training them properly.

no it just sounds like someone who wants to recruit someone young

apprenticeships are well established in areas like plumbing

el_dazza · 28 Feb 2015 at 17:30

LeeUK said:
Sounds like he is one of those employers that just want to abuse the system. Take on a young skivvy and pay them a pittance without training them properly.

I once saw an apprentice delivery van driver job for some local builders merchants. 39 hour week for something like £88. What does that even train you!

I've seen apprentice fish fryer and apprentice retail sales assistant. Basically run of the mill jobs for a third of the normal wage.

£15 · 28 Feb 2015 at 22:09

There are exceptions in the traditional trades, e.g plumber, but as someone that has spent just the last week looking at job adverts I have come to the conclusion employers are now taking the p*** with apprenticeships and see it as a way to recruit people on the cheap, even be quids in after they've got tax payer funding.

But hey, the unemployment figures are going down so it's all goooooood.