{"id":59935,"date":"2018-04-13T12:02:03","date_gmt":"2018-04-13T12:02:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.tesyouth.org\/t\/?p=59935"},"modified":"2023-07-11T15:19:47","modified_gmt":"2023-07-11T15:19:47","slug":"firms-relabelling-low-skilled-jobs-as-apprenticeships","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tesyouth.org\/t\/firms-relabelling-low-skilled-jobs-as-apprenticeships\/","title":{"rendered":"Firms relabelling low-skilled jobs as apprenticeships"},"content":{"rendered":"

According to the study by centre-right think tank Reform<\/a> fast food giants, coffee shops and retailers are relabelling low-skilled jobs as apprenticeships and gaining subsidies for training.<\/p>\n

\"\"The report says many firms have rebranded existing roles after being obliged to contribute cash to on-the-job training. It adds that 40% of government-approved apprenticeship standards do not meet a traditional definition of them.<\/p>\n

The government says “quality” is at the heart of its apprenticeship reforms. As part of the changes, it introduced an apprenticeship levy on organisations paying more than \u00a33m in salaries a year.<\/p>\n

They have to pay 0.5% of their wages total into a “digital account” held by HMRC. They then “spend” these contributions on apprenticeship training delivered by registered providers. They can also get back up to 90% of the cost of training.<\/p>\n

Low-wage roles<\/strong>
\nBut they are also entitled to pay apprentices lower than the standard minimum wage. The minimum rates range from \u00a33.70 an hour for anyone in their first year of an apprenticeship to \u00a37.38<\/p>\n

The report says: “As part of the government’s wider package of reforms to apprenticeships, groups of employers came together to write the new ‘apprenticeship standards’.
\n“Some used this opportunity to generate high-quality standards, but others appear to be simply rebadging low-quality, low-skill and often low-wage roles as ‘apprenticeships’ instead.”<\/p>\n

In 2013, the government said apprenticeships had to be skilled roles, requiring substantial and sustained training of at least 12 months, leading to full competency and should provide the apprentice with transferrable skills in an occupation.<\/p>\n

But a quick glance at the government’s official apprenticeships website shows many high street firms advertising for apprentices in what appear to be unskilled roles.<\/p>\n

For example, KFC is advertising for an apprentice hospitality team member. The advert describes the apprenticeship as “a structured, learner and employer-focused development programme designed to create opportunities for lifelong knowledge, skills and behaviours”.<\/p>\n

But the role is described as cooking “fries” and other products and serving customers front of house, or cooking and assembling KFC products, while maintaining clean, sanitary working conditions.<\/p>\n

It says training is based around day-to-day duties, but will also involve one-to-one interactions with a specialised trainer every four to six weeks.<\/p>\n

KFC said the apprenticeship existed before the levy was introduced and met all the key standards, and that the firm paid more than the minimum apprenticeship rates. Read more<\/a><\/p>\n