I firmly believe they are a cartel. I've done the SECTT test (Scotland) was told I scored well over 90% (I'm not trying to sound smug, just trying to point out the level I passed at), yet could not get an apprenticeship or adult training place as I was just over 25 when I passed the test (I'm 28 now), when I asked a few employers why I got knocked back, the answer...money, younger candidates get subsidised, older candidates don't.
Hacked me off enough I went off and did other things thinking I had to have an apprenticeship to legally do electrical work. (I'm planning to do C+G as an alternative, and go from there, either do self employed domestic electrical maintenance or take further courses in auto electrics)
I recently asked SJIB about what I would have do in terms of courses and experience to get an ECS/CSCS electricians card and was curtly told I would not be issued anything apart from a labourers card, no matter how much experience I had unless I completed a JIB approved apprenticeship / adult training scheme, whereupon I pointed out that I had been told I was highly unlikely get said place by several employers due to the subsidy issue and wasn't there another path I could pursue...the response....basically tough cookies, we make the rules.
That attitude annoyed me enough that I phoned one of the regional MSPs (who happens to be a Tory...someone I normally couldn't find common ground with) to raise an issue that its a conflict of interest to allow those who run the apprenticeship scheme to set the rules for site card issuance and that its age discrimination to only subsidise those below a certain age, also if the standard is an apprenticeship then surely subsidies should be available to any candidate not just those between 2 ages. I also mentioned that I want to work and make a career for myself, and my career path is being obstructed by a body, who are discriminating by age rather than test scores.
I have been told that their education spokesperson is planning to call me to discuss the Tory position, but that it boils down to, that they are aware that there are big problems with the apprentice system as it stands, that people like myself are being blocked from taking up a career, that there is no clear path for those who are looking to retrain into a trade and that action needs to be taken to reform the system, however part of the issue in Scotland is that some of the relevant legislation is reserved and some is devolved, so neither parliament has full ownership of the issue and its a slightly grey area.
(I tried my constituency SNP MSP first, but his aide was highly rude and accused me of "whining that I couldn't find work because I'm too old" - Am I permitted to mention said aide's name??, the SNP are getting a letter of complaint about her attitude).
I don't think its too much to ask for a level playing field, is it? Surely the industry should be trying to attract candidates with the greatest aptitude?
Pardon any grammar and spelling errors, I'm knackered from doing a lot of landscaping work today.
