Studying and working at the same time needs flexibility
and commitment and preferably a supportive employer. Nevertheless, the
government is encouraging employers and educators to collaborate on ways to deliver
further education to employees, to help close the ‘skills-gap’.
Presently, if you are 16 or 17 years old and have not yet
achieved a GCSE level of education or equivalent, you are entitled to time off
work to study for that level. The time off should be paid at your normal hourly
rate. 18 year-olds may finish a course of study, if they started it before
being employed.
Apprenticeships can be sought in many types of business,
such as:
·
Accountancy
·
Administration
·
Construction
·
Leisure
These work-based training programmes are offered to new
and existing employees who are under 24 years old. Apprenticeships, which offer
nationally-recognised qualifications, are on the increase in the economic
downturn. However, you may only be paid a National Minimum Wage of £2.60 an
hour while you are studying.
Your employer may sponsor you to take a full-time course
at a college, where you return to work during the institution’s holidays or at
weekends. They may pay a certain amount to you as living
expenses whilst you study, and keep your job open for you. Equally, many University
or college courses incorporate a year spent working in the relevant business or
industry as part of the learning process.
Some large companies offer programmes of employer-funded
undergraduate degrees. The employer will fund fees and tuition expenses,
generally for business degrees, while paying a small salary to the
undergraduate. In turn, the undergraduate will work for the company while
spending one or two days a week at University.
If you work in a company of 250 or more, you have the
right to request time off for further education, called 'time to train'. The
training must lead to a recognised qualification that develops relevant skills.
In order to qualify, you must have given 26 weeks’ continuous service to your
employer. If you make a proper request and this is refused by an employer who
does not follow the proper refusal procedure, or if you are dismissed for
asking for ‘time to train’, you may be able to make a complaint to an
employment tribunal. If this is the case, you should consult a specialist employment
solicitor.
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