What is an apprenticeship?

1
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.

2
History of the apprenticeship

• 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 10 - 15 years of
  age and would live in the master craftsmans
  household.
• The parents or guardian of a minor would agree
  with a Guilds 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).

3
Guilds

• 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.

4
City Guilds of London Institute

• Established in 1876
• City Guilds Colleges
• Improve training of craftspeople
• Nationally recognised qualification

5
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 apprentices 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.

6
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 1979.
• 1 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.

7
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 1640. 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."

8

• 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"

9
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