u must be having a laugh

[sparky1502]

I am 26 and attending college weekly to attain my 2330 qualification...having been layed off like a lot of trainee's ive spent most of this year looking for work in the lancs area of the country to help me gain more underpinning knowledge, so u can imagine my joy when i get a call from an agency asking me to start work asap on a new build....but...imagine my then crest fallen face when they refuse to give me the time off to attend college...i know there could be an option to swap my course to a night class but as this is a temp job for a month or so ...i have to ask myself is it worth it...i mean how the hell do companies expect u to be come qualified AND compantent at your trade if they are not willing to give u the time to attend college...i know the country is in recession but balls to it thats not my fault i just want a chance one little chance to work and be good at something....It seems strange to me that the country bends itself over trying to get kids from 16-24 in to apprentiships but anyone over 24 its the scrap heap for u matey...and why why i ask ...well its all down to cost....JTL and PFT get £15000 per year for anyone under 24 but over 24 they get £5000...so there is the answer flippin money.... sorry for ranting.....rant over...

 

[oldtimer]

I hear what you say loud and clear and take it from someone who started his time 34 years ago. You are not alone but expecting an employer to give you paid time off and even contribute towards any courses well that just aint going to happen. I put myself through my I&T plus H&S and was lucky that my employer put me through te 17th although speaking to guys in the same boat as you one was told after 12 years faultless employment he was told that if he did not get T&I,H&S + 17th then he was unemployed so he paid for the courses and did not get paid for taking the time off his plus he had to pay for his hotel room. Hard you bet but welcome to the real world you say is it worth it then take it from me yes it is but this is where your staying power is put to the test if you give up then you will spend the rest of your life saying what if so stick in get good at what you do and be humble enough to thank people if they help you out then when an employer says so sad too bad then move on. Yes it is a hard world but I hope you do stick in and hope you do get a break.

 

[sparky1502]

i dont expect my employer to pay anythin i pay for all my courses myself and i dont know many lads on my course who get paid for a 5 day week while going to college most are on a four day....i know that its not going to be easy but ive had almost a year of this crap the fact remains that some sparkys dont want to teach you the trade as they feel threatend that they will be fired off as soon as im qualified and i realise that you can do 4 years at college and still not know tap all but how do people expect u to become qualified without a little leg up as it were...i dont want to bleat on cos some lads have got it harder than me and i dont really blame employers after all they are in the buisness of making money first and formost i blame the govement for missing a gap in which the adult learners dont get the benifits of the training companys like jtl due to the reduction in money...its frankly a joke

 

[Davey101]

One of the problems with being on an agency I guess mate.
Was it the agency, or the firm the agency is supplying?
TBH, usually, if you dont know the bloke the agency is suppyling, you just want a bloke that will be there 5 days a week, not taking random days off, or anything else which might make your job harder.Not saying its right, just the way it is sometimes. Personnally, if it was my job, I wouldnt have a problem with it, some foreman/engineers can get a bit funny though.

 

[Mr Brady]

Hi, you could have a chat with your new employer, explain how important it is to you to continue this course, especially as this is a short contract for you. Offer to work the Saturday or two extra hours a day to make up the time, it will demonstrate your keenness to work.
If they say no, you have'nt lost anything and you'll probably stick in their memory the next time they want someone. Just make sure you leave your number with them.

 

[Davey101]

Wont help if they arent working saturdays themselves. No-ones going to let you work extra at night if they arent there either.

 

[supasparxs]

I am 26 and attending college weekly to attain my 2330 qualification...having been layed off like a lot of trainee's ive spent most of this year looking for work in the lancs area of the country to help me gain more underpinning knowledge, so u can imagine my joy when i get a call from an agency asking me to start work asap on a new build....but...imagine my then crest fallen face when they refuse to give me the time off to attend college...i know there could be an option to swap my course to a night class but as this is a temp job for a month or so ...i have to ask myself is it worth it...i mean how the hell do companies expect u to be come qualified AND compantent at your trade if they are not willing to give u the time to attend college...i know the country is in recession but balls to it thats not my fault i just want a chance one little chance to work and be good at something....It seems strange to me that the country bends itself over trying to get kids from 16-24 in to apprentiships but anyone over 24 its the scrap heap for u matey...and why why i ask ...well its all down to cost....JTL and PFT get £15000 per year for anyone under 24 but over 24 they get £5000...so there is the answer flippin money.... sorry for ranting.....rant over...

If I were you, I would keep quiet to the agency about colledge.
When you start on site tell the suppervisor that yopu won't be in oin whatever day it is as you have colledge, In the past when running jobs I would let people have unpaid time off especially for something like getting qualifications.
The agency are a business and they get XYZ £ and hour for whatever hours you work.
If you get a company to sign a time sheet for 24 hours a day and 7 days a week they would be happy because they will ge getting commision on 168 hours in a week. On the other hand if there are 2 agencies on site and the other companies guys are doing all the hours, they wouldn't be happy.

Basically keep the agancy in the dark and sort it on site, tell the supervisor that you would work overtime if it's available to keep him happy.
what's the worst thing that'll haoppen?
they could sack you and so you may get a week or two's exoperience and closer to when you have your exams
(also you'll have a bit more money in your pocket which you wouldn't have had if you just turned the job down)

Richard

 

[sparky1502]

thanks for the advice....new year new start thats the way im thinking now i start back next tuesday doing my so I'll keep looking for work hopefully the new year will bring more work

 

[Guest123]

Things can only get better matey.....just got to keep on plugging away.