What is an apprenticeship? Apprenticeship is a system of training a new generation a skill on which to build a career. Most of the training is done on the job while working for an employer who helps the apprentice learn their trade, in exchange for their continuing labour for an agreed period after they become skilled. Theoretical education may also be involved, informally via the workplace and/or attending vocational schools while still being paid by the employer.

Apprenticeships have a long tradition in the U.K. dating back to around the 12th century. In 1563, the Statute of Artificers and Apprentices was passed to regulate and protect the apprenticeship system, forbidding anyone from practising a trade or craft without first serving a 7 year period as an apprentice to a master. Apprentices were young, usually years of age and would live in the master craftsman’s household. The parents or guardian of a minor would agree with a Guild’s Master craftsman the conditions for an apprenticeship which would bind the minor for 7-9 years. The parent or guardian would pay a premium to the craftsman and the contract would be recorded in an indenture (a written agreement between two or more parties). History of the apprenticeship

In pre-industrial cities, craftsmen tended to form associations based on their trades. They were organised in a manner somewhere between a trade union, a cartel and a secret society. The founders were usually free independent craftsmen. Guilds

Established in 1876 City & Guilds Colleges Improve training of craftspeople Nationally recognised qualification City & Guilds of London Institute

Modern Apprenticeships ▪ The starting age of an apprentice is not less than 16. ▪ There is a schedule of work processes in which an apprentice is to receive training and experience on the job. ▪ The program includes instruction designed to provide apprentices with knowledge and technical subjects related to their trade. ▪ There is a progressively increasing schedule of wages; ▪ Supervision of on-the-job training with adequate facilities to train an apprentice. ▪ The apprentice’s progress, both in job performance and related instruction, is evaluated periodically and appropriate records are maintained. ▪ Successful apprentices are recognised with a City and Guilds award.

My Apprenticeship Served woodworking apprenticeship at the Newcastle College of Arts and Technology in the North East of England, completing a 3-year City & Guilds Institute course in day per week was spent at college and 4 days in the workplace. Course covered both hand and machine woodworking. At the end of each year students were tested on theory and practical skills.

Early apprenticeships What it was like to be an apprentice in early New England is indicated by these words from a 1640 indenture. "Know all men that I, Thomas Millard, with the Consent of Henry Wolcott of Windsor unto whose custody and care at whose charge I was brought over out of England into New England, doe bynd myself as an apprentise for eight yeeres to serve William Pynchon of Springfield, his heirs and assigns in all manner of lawful employmt unto the full ext of eight yeeres beginninge the 29 day of Sept And the said William doth condition to find the said Thomas meat drinke & clothing fitting such an apprentise & at the end of this tyme one new sute of apparell and forty shillings in mony: subscribed this 28 October 1640."

As it turned out, apprentice Millard lost out on the cash mentioned. The following statement is made at the foot of the indenture: "Tho Millard by his owne consent is released & discharged of Mr. Pinchons service this 22. of May 1648 being 4 months before his tyme comes out, in Consideration whereof he looses the 40s in mony wch should have bin pd him, but Mr. Pynchon givith him one New sute of Aparell he hath at present. — by Thomas Millard 22nd of May 1648"

Cabinet maker work schedule Knowledge of Materials (524 hours) Layout and Marking of Stock (500 hours) Stock Cutting (1900 hours) Bench Work/Assembly in Shop (2100 hours) Finishing (1900 hours) Installation (500 hours) Related Instruction (576 hours) Total 8,000 hours