apprenticeship

A question about : apprenticeship

my 18 year old son has been offered a four year apprenticeship with an established painter and decorator firm.they are prepared to put him through college and gain on site experience.my concern is they want me to fund my son to the sum of Ј5000 up front.i have never heard of this before .should we get involved.any advice would be appreciated

Best answers:

• You should never pay to have a job. Sounds very dodgy to me. I'd avoid it!
  What is the Ј5000 for? That's a lot of money!
• The painter and decorator does not pay the college fees, CITB do, and they will be getting a couple of thousand pounds a year from CITB to put your son through college ie pay him his wage while he is not productive. Do not pay them any money. Are you sure this company are a legit company?
• No different to when you are asked to pay for CRB/DBS as I have been more times then I care to remember, with the exception of 1 company - it had occurred to me there comes a time when you are simply paying to have job! but what protection is out there?
  I was fortunate last time I was due to pay for a DBS, the interview got cancelled! Good job really as I decided I wasn't going to be paying anymore
  I would quite like to go after the earlier co's I paid the fee's too... but I know what their defence would read!
• Avoid this 'apprenticeship' . where was it advertised, perhaps you should report it t?
• I am an apprenticeship assessor, and although my vocation is not in the same funding stream as yours, I have never heard of this at all at my training provider!
  Sometimes partial funding is required (this is only for 19+) in my sector, but that is paid by the employer, not the apprentice - and certainly never that much!
  Head for the hills!
• Don't pay for an apprenticeship.
  I can't see why you would pay for a DBS unless you are self employed.