[Window Washers]

I know if they are on the dole you can get paid money for taking someone on, I havent had an apprentice mate so cannot answer your question.

Try this site : http://www.apprenticeships.org.uk/Employers.aspx

[C o z y]

So can anyone just answer the original question ?

You can see for yourself Tony, it's not just an answer to your question, it's a question of is he an apprentice aswell.  Look at the link Ian has posted. Should get an answer there. I really don't believe there is an apprenticeship in window washing. Is there one in car washing or bin cleaning? I don't honestly know.

Where I live, there are apprenticeships in both plumbing and hairdressing!! Both 36 months.

[DG Cleaning]

Ian, Did you do a plumbing apprenticeship or have you just got a city & guilds in it? Two very different things.

[DG Cleaning]

I if someone came to me for a job and said they had completed an apprenticeship as a window cleaner I'd be very dubious about them. I'd think they were lacking in common sense, nous or to use an old expression " a little bit light under the cap"   

[Window Washers]

Ian, Did you do a plumbing apprenticeship or have you just got a city & guilds in it? Two very different things.

2 year city and guilds they amount to the same thing the qualification, but i know what your meaning

[Tony Edwards]

Maybe I should rephrase it to trainee !

[Window Washers]

Maybe I should rephrase it to trainee !

[C o z y]

Maybe I should rephrase it to trainee !

 

[DG Cleaning]

Thanks Ian

[wfp master]

Maybe I should rephrase it to trainee !

[Carl2009]

These so called apprenticeships are a travesty: http://www.edexcel.com/quals/apprenticeships/customerservice/Pages/default.aspx

They are NOT apprenticeships, they are training courses and a way for the government to alter statistics in my opinion. Mind you at 49 I belong to a generation where a proper apprenticeship was 4 or 5 years before you got your papers. Not that i've ever done one.

As others have said it won't take long to get the basics of window cleaning; add in a bit more time for H and S training and you are away. Success depends more on knowing how to run a business properly and having the right personality (having what my mother called the gift of the gab has been a greater or lesser part of my "success").

[john@windows2clean]

Tony, what is your email - I'll forward details to you.

[zeusweiler]

look i wasn't trying to make a full of this topic in any way, but you have to agree my points were valid.

the op posted the wrong wording it should of been trainee. then somebody glorified it by saying his apprentice was at college doing window cleaning.

if my post was what you expected from the forum and you are offended by it then I'm sorry but you have to ask yourself why are you on here then.

it wasnt me who posted summin stupid sounding you did that yourself. you have to see how silly this sounds you are training a so called apprentice who is learning from you!!! who didn't do an apprenticeship in the first place. in my book that makes him more qualified than you on paper if what you say is true.  

i don't know you, its not personal, i don't really care.

the truth is the truth, its not a trade its a manual job.
you are classed as a manual outside worker with the government, insurance companies, banks etc.

i do this job to fill a gap. it suits my lifestyle at the moment. i work around my wife (who has a career) and kids and this job is great for that. I've been to college in my early twenties in another line of work and gained 4 years of training but even with that i wasn't classed as an apprentice. i will continue to do window cleaning part time when i go back to do my first 2 years of a sound engineering degree in september. im just saying if there was an apprenticeship in wc we would all be awarded ionic systems qualifications.

if the guy was at college doing an hnd in business management with the intention of setting up one day in window cleaning that sounds respectful enough.

read the points-

i do agree if you are new to this you are a trainee. and there is a difference in skill levels between window cleaners. but the truth is if this is an industry that classes trainee window cleaners as apprentices then trad only, or wfp only windies dont have the entire training or skill set to be able to trade as time served.

that is fact!.

so what happens to these guys that have been trad for the past 30 years are they still an apprentice??? coz they cant do wfp.

[Tony Edwards]

Tony, what is your email - I'll forward details to you.

John


images121@live.co.uk

thanks very much

[Caleb Morley]

FAO: John

Hi John,

I cant seem to PM you for some reason. I would be grateful if you sent me some details about this aswell as I am looking at going down this route early next year. Is that ok?

Cheers,

Caleb

e-mail: info@lionsoflondon.co.uk

[ben M]

I've just done a quick google and it looks like there is an employer's grant, but you have to employ at least 1000 people first:



http://www.apprenticeships.org.uk/Employers.aspx

But that was only a quick google; look into it deeper.

Tosh, up to 1000 employees not at least 1000 people! 

[Tom White]

Thanks, Ben.  My close reading skills are lacking sometimes.  That puts a whole different slant on it, eh?

When someone understands the gist of the thing, brief me please.   

[Tom White]

look i wasn't trying to make a full of this topic in any way, but you have to agree my points were valid.

the op posted the wrong wording it should of been trainee. then somebody glorified it by saying his apprentice was at college doing window cleaning.

if my post was what you expected from the forum and you are offended by it then I'm sorry but you have to ask yourself why are you on here then.

it wasnt me who posted summin stupid sounding you did that yourself. you have to see how silly this sounds you are training a so called apprentice who is learning from you!!! who didn't do an apprenticeship in the first place. in my book that makes him more qualified than you on paper if what you say is true.  

i don't know you, its not personal, i don't really care.

the truth is the truth, its not a trade its a manual job.
you are classed as a manual outside worker with the government, insurance companies, banks etc.

i do this job to fill a gap. it suits my lifestyle at the moment. i work around my wife (who has a career) and kids and this job is great for that. I've been to college in my early twenties in another line of work and gained 4 years of training but even with that i wasn't classed as an apprentice. i will continue to do window cleaning part time when i go back to do my first 2 years of a sound engineering degree in september. im just saying if there was an apprenticeship in wc we would all be awarded ionic systems qualifications.

if the guy was at college doing an hnd in business management with the intention of setting up one day in window cleaning that sounds respectful enough.

read the points-

i do agree if you are new to this you are a trainee. and there is a difference in skill levels between window cleaners. but the truth is if this is an industry that classes trainee window cleaners as apprentices then trad only, or wfp only windies dont have the entire training or skill set to be able to trade as time served.

that is fact!.

so what happens to these guys that have been trad for the past 30 years are they still an apprentice??? coz they cant do wfp.

Zeus, why don't you start another post rather than clutter this one up with your thoughts and opinions?

I'd be interested to read the experience of the guys who've used this scheme.

[wfp master]

wtf.

[john@windows2clean]

For those that have shown interest:

- You will need to register as an employer if not already with HMRC
- You will need all things that go with being an employer, employers insurance, PAYE setup and proper employee contracts.
- The apprentice will need to be on a minimum of 30 hour contract, and will be entitled to all usual employee benefits (holidays,sick etc)
- You will be paying employer NIC's on top of wages
- If your apprentice is of a young age you need to adhere to young persons employment laws, such as 2 consecutive days of a week etc
- You have to pay them whilst they are at college.
- The minimum pay is £2.85 or something ridiculous, but your unlikely to get someone decent that will do it for that, I am paying a 16 year old £6 an hour, he is happy with that.
- You will get £1500, £750 after 3 months, then the remainder after 6 months. This only really covers the cost of the days at college.
- What you will hopefully get is an eager person wanting to prove themselves, and will make a great investment to your business.
- They will study the same NVQ that Impact get slated for here on CIU through the college but also small business training such as marketing, accounts, time management etc. Also there are modules on COSHH, H&S, risk assessments, method statements etc.

At the end of the day it is not a way of getting cheap labour, it is a way of getting a person into your business. If they remain with you after the 12-18months then its a good thing, if they move on they will have a CV with work experience and a qualification on it for future jobs which is good for them.

If you don't already employ and are a sole trader you will really have to do the maths, because you will need to work out what this will cost you and if you can afford it. (Wages+NICs+Increased Insurance+Kit+Uniform etc).