Is this an abuse of the Apprenticeship Scheme

[Buzzardist]

A 19 year old applied for and got an apprenticeship with a call centre employer.
This was his first job after searching very hard. The employer said that there would be a Learning Provider who would guide and oversee his progress towards an eventual NVQ. After 9 weeks this still has not happened and now he is told that he is not achieving targets and will lose his job.
He has worked every day, never been late, tried really hard and enjoyed the work place, he is paid £80 per week.
It seems unfair that the employer has not provided the promised support but still penalises the young man. Is this an abuse of the scheme?

[Zacs-Master]

It's down to the age old question of 'what does it say in his contract.'

[tonyav]

Definately sounds like an abuse of the scheme to me, my thoughts are that this company probably do this all the time as it provides them with very cheap labour. Sounds like they are exploiting the curent economic and lack of jobs conditions to me.

[Maydup]

When his apprenticeship started it should have been in conjunction with the Learning Provider. Usually the local college or Training Centre.

Contact the National Apprenticeship Dept at UK Skills, and a Government Dept. Here's a link and there's a tab called "Parents" - it might help if not contact someone there direct for advice. Don't let it drop as it is not a fully supported apprenticeship but sounds like cheap labour to me.

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

[boxtops]

I agree with maidup. In my area of work, employers take on Apprentices specifically to undertake an NVQ/Apprenticeship in the area the employer needs, and if the student meets the criteria, the qualification is fully funded. However, this lad is 19 and different criteria apply if you are 19+ - I learned last week that if an employer has previously had an Advanced Apprentice, then they have to pay an employer contribution of £900 towards other apprentices (as well as paying their basic salary, which sounds about right in this case).
In our place, the recruitment of the apprentices is joint between the employer and the training provider, to ensure that the applicants meet all the necessary criteria.
Is there an HR or training department at the place where he works? that would be my first port of call, as well as examining his employment contract to see if there is small print which says "we'll only put you forward for the qualification if you meet our minimum standards".
was he told that there would be any probationary period?

[Maydup]

Agree Boxtops, but if he's not on a registered Apprenticehip scheme and only being assessed for suitability for example, he should be in receipt of National Minimum Wage.

I fear the firm's HR dept are likely to be the ones running this unregistered scheme and although its good to check with them, I'd approach apprenticeship.gov too.

[Buzzardist]

Guys, Some fantastic info and contacts there. Clearly I must delve into the "contract" and the verbal promises though I fear the best that can be salvaged will be some real experience of what questions he should ask and what guarantees he gets at any future interview.
Again, thank you for your prompt advice, that was really appreciated.