Taking on an apprentice

[cr0ft]

Hi all,

I'm just about to start the recruiting process for an apprentice. This will be my first full time employee so I'm keen to get it right. I was wondering if anyone has an apprentice employment contract I could beg/borrow/steal/adapt?

Thanks in advance!

 

[ecowarm]

If you sign one from the college they have a contact of employment

 

[cr0ft]

Great stuff. Does anyone out there get any grants towards there apprentice? I was under the impression that Construction Skills do some and I know there's a grant if you take a young person on who is claiming Jobseekers allowance.

 

[mikeygas]

Sack getting an apprentice mate, speak to Unguided1 and get yourself one of 'dem loveslaves!

 

[CES]

There's a few companies/colleges begging for apprentice placements in Installer mag. or there's JTL as well.. Unguided1 will have some advice on the way to handle 'em...lol

 

[PlumbBobBob]

usually with a whip lol

 

[unguided1]

Hi Croft I usually take on second or third year apprentices from companies that can no longer keep em, also I dont employ them I have them go self employed as I feel that if I have a minion who is just along for the ride they are not getting the full benefit of all my miniscule amount of knowledge and the little buggers will take the mick, Depending on their attitude, knowledge and enthusiasm I will pay them up to £120 a day but believe me they do earn that, it is also really funny when a course tutor phones you up and complains that the loveslave is earning more than they are, Also with the sort of work I do they learn the whole spectrum of heating and plumbing, book keeping and tax avoidance, self employmentand money handling.
reference to beating your loveslave try and avoid anything that marks em on everday general beatings other wise they will get spoiled with sympathy from well meaning customers, also the advantage of paying them good money is when they do something spectacularly stupid you can chuck a kango at em, if it breaks you can dock their wages for not giving it a soft landing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[cr0ft]

Thanks! With regards to beating them do you have any good tips to avoid marks/bruising?

 

[unguided1]

yeah a good hefty steel toe cap in the kneecaps works wonders, thenyou can laugh at em as they do the monkey walk!!!!!

 

[buckley plumb]

Hi Croft I usually take on second or third year apprentices from companies that can no longer keep em, also I dont employ them I have them go self employed as I feel that if I have a minion who is just along for the ride they are not getting the full benefit of all my miniscule amount of knowledge and the little buggers will take the mick, Depending on their attitude, knowledge and enthusiasm I will pay them up to £120 a day but believe me they do earn that, it is also really funny when a course tutor phones you up and complains that the loveslave is earning more than they are, Also with the sort of work I do they learn the whole spectrum of heating and plumbing, book keeping and tax avoidance, self employmentand money handling.
reference to beating your loveslave try and avoid anything that marks em on everday general beatings other wise they will get spoiled with sympathy from well meaning customers, also the advantage of paying them good money is when they do something spectacularly stupid you can chuck a kango at em, if it breaks you can dock their wages for not giving it a soft landing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i would come and be your love slave for that each day.lol things in staffordshire are tight business slack people want boiler changes for next to nothing.

ant

 

[SafeGasInstall]

how can you take on apprentice when you are not gas safe ????
will they be just doing plumbing sink ,baths, toilets ???/

 

[cr0ft]

By taking on a plumbing apprentice There's a lot of people who don't want to get into the gas. My personal opinion on it is that I think it's going to become a smaller and smaller market as renewables grow over the next 10 years. Right now if I was starting afresh I would be looking to get a good plumbing apprenticeship under my belt and then some decent electrical experience too with a view to installing renewables.

Plumbing, sinks, baths and toilets covers quite an array of things, it's like saying will a gas fitter just be doing boilers?

Just my 10p worth.

 

[SimonG]

how can you take on apprentice when you are not gas safe ????
will they be just doing plumbing sink ,baths, toilets ???/

Ahh, good. Another reason why I don't have to take on an apprentice!!!!

There's a lot more to plumbing and heating than gas!! In my humble opinion.

 

[SimonG]

Ahh, good. Another reason why I don't have to take on an apprentice!!!!

There's a lot more to plumbing and heating than gas!! In my humble opinion.

Not that I am belittleing the gas side.

 

[stevetheplumber]

shame your not closer you could have a 37th year apprentice for that money and yes i can catch a kango

 

[cr0ft]

Ahh, good. Another reason why I don't have to take on an apprentice!!!!

There's a lot more to plumbing and heating than gas!! In my humble opinion.

My point exactly Simon. I'm not belittling gas fitters at all, I know and have worked with some fantastic ones and I do respect the amount of knowledge and experience it takes to be one. It is just 1 small part of the bigger picture though. I think that demand for plumbing skills will become stronger as renewables gain ground. I'm already linking up with other trades to offer these next year so any apprentice coming on board will get some really good training.

 

[quality]

I only do heating systems i.e. boilers rads heatpumps underfloor etc. I use a plumber for bathrooms and kitchens etc.
I would definatley agree on gaining electrical experience / training, because if your looking at renewables , electical controls play a big part