The term “apprentice” is often misused

BOOK YOUR FREE INITIAL CALL TODAY

Book your free initial call

    We endeavour to make an initial response to all enquiries within 24 hours but please be aware that on some occasions due to prior commitments or volume of calls we will not be able to respond in that time frame. We also operate a 72 hour return policy. This return policy means that if we have not responded with 72 hours of your initial enquiry we are unable to do so due to current workloads and we will destroy your data accordingly. This policy ensures you are not left waiting and have the certainty that your data is not compromised. In most instances however we are able to make contact within a 24 hour time frame. Please note our free initial advice service is available to clients at our total discretion and if your case is of a complex nature we may not be able to offer you a free consultation. However in these instances we will advise you what the charge would be for an initial fixed fee consultation.
  • (view our privacy statement)
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

As employment lawyers we often hear the term “apprentice” used by clients employers and employees alike to mean many different things like trainee or a more junior member of staff. A true apprentice means something different to an employment lawyer. Apprentices are a unique type of worker whose dismissal needs to be handled with additional care.

The Government has issued a consultation (due to close soon on 19th August 2015) on making it an offence to prohibit the use of the term “apprentice” or “apprenticeship” in relation to any course or training unless it is in relation to a government funded apprenticeship. The offence is aimed at training providers and non-compliance will lead to a fine. The proposed measures would not prevent employers using the word “apprenticeship” to describe their own training, or offering contracts of apprenticeship.

17th August 2015