Info for parents/guardians - Obtaining an employer
There will be a lot of competition to secure a suitable Electrical Contracting Employer and it can often be a lengthy process. We recommend the young person starts to think about this as early as possible. Where possible, ETT will provide assistance to help the young person find an Employer, but, essentially, it’s down to them.
Remember, the young person cannot start the apprenticeship unless they have secured a suitable full-time Employer.
It may be useful for the young person to think about working with a suitable Employer over the summer months to gain a better feel for the Industry in which they are considering a career. This can be extremely useful as it will give the young person an opportunity to experience the conditions and environment of the construction workplace.
If the young person is considering summer work, they must ensure that that they are adequately covered by the Employers Insurance, and that they have also received suitable Health & Safety training. These are important areas that you should discuss with the young person you are responsible for.
It's a good idea for the young person to show some initiative - Encourage them to get in touch with as many local companies as they can. It may also be worthwhile looking beyond their immediate locality.
- Industry Trade bodies can be a good starting point for finding local company details. Why not try the following websites :
- Use local directories such as the Yellow Pages and the BT Phonebook and don't forget local newspapers.
- Make use of the local Careers Service, School Careers Tutors and the vacancies section of this website. Use should also be made of the local library service as a source for identifying employers in the young persons area.
Some things to think about when selecting a suitable Employer
- Will the employer be able to provide the young person with safe conditions of employment?
- Will the employer pay the young person in accordance with Industry determined pay rate? (www.jib.org.uk)
- Is the young person likely to gain the range of experience necessary to support the NVQ requirements? (www.qca.org.uk)
- Has the Employer got a good reputation for training apprentices?
- Will the young person be supported in attending College by this Employer?
- Consider transport - transport to the workplace sometimes presents difficulties discuss this with prospective employers before the young person starts.