Scandal of the women paying to be apprentices

Charity in wage rise plea

MANY female apprentices are paying more than they earn to complete their training, according to a study.

More than half struggled to cover basic living costs and transport, and many were put off as a result.

A survey of 500 apprentices by the Young Women’s Trust found two out of five spent more than they were paid.

The report said young women apprentices earned less than their male counterparts and were more likely to have childcare costs.

Male apprentices are paid, on average, £7.25 an hour, compared with £6.67 for women, an annual difference of more than £1000.

Wage differences were often down to “gender segregation”, with more men going into higher paid engineering apprenticeships, while women were more likely to go into lower paying sectors.

Charity chief executive Dr Carole Easton said: “If the Government is to meet its target of creating three million apprenticeships by 2020 and plug the UK’s skills gap, it must take action to make apprenticeships work for young women.

“Young women can struggle to start and stay in apprenticeships due to low pay, a lack of support and gender stereotypes that shut them out of vital sectors like construction.

“Lots of young people tell us they can’t afford to do an apprenticeship – the £3.50an-hour minimum wage barely covers the bus to work. It’s time the Government made apprenticeships work.”