how to start apprenticeship?

movingawaynz

Hello. my son who is 20 years of age wants to do carpentry. I have gone onto fas website which says that its now dissolved? how does he go about training to be a carpenter or electrician even? its seems very vague... where does he start?
any help is appreciated thanks

Borzoi

movingawaynz wrote: »

any help is appreciated thanks

I think Intreo are the new agency in charge if training.

However apprentices are first hired by a company, who would then enroll them in an apprentice scheme subject to the performance of the young person. Despite the downturn in the construction sector a lot of people are looking to start apprenticeships, but simultaneously some of the courses have been cut. Key thing when applying is to use any contacts that you have, and be specific about what trade you want and why.
good luck

e.r

Mercury engineering are taking on apprentice electricians.

dpofloinn

First things first your son will need to decide what trade he wishes to learn, he should consider it very carefully because this may be what he spends the next 50 years doing and there is nothing like being stuck in a job you hate, he will then need to find a sponsor (employer) who is willing to take him on. He will also need to be sure that the employer is not just taking him on as cheap labour, and that the employer is fully tax registered and legit not just a man with a van kind of tradesman.

Usually you would spend the first 3 months on 'trial' before an apprentice will be registered basically just to see if a person has an aptitude for the trade.Some trades will have requirements like eye tests for colour blindness etc.

When an apprentice is registered that day is officially the start date of the apprenticeship, the time served on trial does not count. They have to complete 208 full weeks including off the job placements ( so it should take 4 years to complete but the way things are now it could take twice that time to qualify), the 208 are checked trough the Revenue.All exams will have to be passed and AFAIk if you fail 3 times its over

He will work like a dog for peanuts for the first 3 years or so, I think 1st year rates are around E200 per week for a 45+ week.Each trade has their own pay rates so it cold be as little as E170 per week. All apprentices will have a representative from FAS/Solas or whatever they call themselves now who are supposed to look after the interests of the apprentice, However an apprentice might only meet this rep once from the day he starts to the day he graduates. I think the minimum requirements for entry into an apprenticeship is a person has to be 16 and have a minimum of the Junior Cert. Altough alot of employers prefer that apprentices have at least a Leaving cert it is also a big advantage if an apprentice has a driving licence

Rhys Essien

Your son also has the option of joining the army or navy and he can do a trade with them.I think they are even recruiting at the moment.He also gets to go on missions abroad with the UN so no fear of bordem.