Vic.
You are right to say that our scheme is for 1 year and not 5 years but to say it is " not a real apprenticeship" is not right.
We have moved on from the old style apprentice scheme and more importantly moved away from using apprentices as cheap labour. Once into the industry and after receiving their Level 2 NVQ, it is up to them how they present themselves, how their skilled work colleagues receive them and how they impress their employer that will determine the rest of their career.
An aside to our scheme and for me a very important bi-product, is our D&A zero tolerance policy.
We do not turn away those youths who have problems with drugs & alcohol, we actively encourage them to get clean and pass our strict tests and then because of the same zero tolerance that is in place within the industry, with random testing, by companies and railway regulatory bodies, they have to stay clean.
Some of our intake have already thanked us for giving them a reason not just to give it up but more important, giving them a reason to stay of it.
I understand what you mean Vic, ours is not like the old 5 year Apprenticeship Scheme but that does not mean it is not a real one.
