Can I Transfer My Electrical Apprenticeship to Another Employer?

One of the benefits of working for a Group Training Organisation (like EGT) is that if your host runs out of work, or you’ve learned all you can at that host employer, EGT will find you another. So you wont get stuck doing the same thing every day.

But, when you’re halfway through an apprenticeship, sometimes you might have to change employers. This can happen for a host of reasons - the business may no longer be able to keep you employed, you may have had to relocate, or you might have just found a better opportunity. It happens, and more often than you might think! The point is, plenty of people do it, and if necessary you can too. But, that doesn’t mean that it’s an easy thing to do, nor that you should do it on a whim. 

Understanding Apprenticeships 

An electrical apprenticeship usually lasts four years. It is a period in which an apprentice is under the supervision of a fully-qualified tradesperson, so that they may learn the necessary skills and habits to become a fully-qualified tradesperson themselves. 

When they decide to be taken on by an organisation/employer, a formal contract is entered into, called a training contract. This contract sets out the requirements for both the apprentice and the employer over the duration of the apprenticeship. These might include what the apprentice will be taught, expectations of attendance at both on and off the job training, further education (such as additional courses through CET) - just to name a few things. 

Not to mention, under the tutelage of a qualified tradesperson, the apprentice will learn valuable work experience - which isn’t just the physical apprentice work. It’s also dealing with customers or clients, running a business, expenditure, forming relationships with suppliers and other tradespeople - amongst a myriad of other things. Learning a trade isn’t just about the job itself, it’s about the life of a tradesperson.

Reasons for Transferring Apprenticeships

There are a few common reasons that an apprentice might change over to another tradesperson or employer. It may be that the employer simply can’t keep them on any more, or the apprentice may wish to learn a new set of skills. There may be a relationship breakdown, or one of the parties may have to relocate.

Take for example, that a tradesperson who has employed an apprentice and is a sole operator must relocate from Perth to Northam for work. In this case, the apprentice has a choice - either go with the tradesperson and continue working with them, or apply to have their apprenticeship transferred to another employer.

If the apprentice decides to transfer, then a few steps have to be followed. However, the first thing that must always be done is to talk to one another. 

In many cases, a compromise may be able to be reached whereby the apprentice and the employer can agree to continue working together - at least until the apprentice can find another employer to take them. This is particularly helpful when the apprentice wishes to move to find a new experience. 

It is worth noting here though, that this is one of the advantages of EGT - apprentices are able to move around different host employers and get a wide range of experiences - but more on that later.

How to Transfer Your Electrician Apprenticeship

Whatever the reason is, the apprentice can transfer their apprenticeship to another employer - and it is a simple process but can take some time.

Firstly, both parties must consent to the transfer. All parties (current employer, new employer, and the apprentice - or their parent/guardian if under 18) must sign and complete a particular form (available from the DTWD website), and submit it to their apprenticeship office. The apprenticeship office will then check with all parties and confirm that everyone agrees and the form is correct. 

Once the confirmation comes back from the apprenticeship office, the apprentice can then commence work with the new employer. However, the apprentice is on a one-month probation period. So this is something that should be taken into account when moving employers as an apprentice.

Benefits and Drawbacks of Transferring

Whilst there are potential benefits, such as being able to gain new skills in different fields, there are some potential drawbacks as well. One being that it may disrupt your off the job training schedule, and sometimes you may find the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.

And bear in mind that work schedules might change drastically - you might find yourself working on weekends, or on night work if you’re working in industrial or commercial settings, which can be a big change if you’re used to residential for example. 

Ultimately, the apprentice will have to decide if it is worth it for additional experience, pay, or just to get out of a workplace they do not wish to be a part of any more.

Conclusion

So, should you transfer your apprenticeship to another employer? Well, that answer is personal - some will say yes, some will say no, and some may not have another option.

Whilst the process is simple, there are a host of things which you have to consider when doing so - including agreements between the employer and the employee, forms to fill out, and the ultimate question - why you are doing it. However, at EGT - the process is a lot simpler. 

If you are employed by EGT, you have the benefit of being hosted by multiple host employers across your apprenticeship. Our field officers and office staff assist in this - so you can easily obtain a broad range of experiences from residential right through to mining and industrial through your apprenticeship term with us. 

And, if there are issues on the job site, or with a host employer or a tradesperson, we handle that with you as well. EGT is the best option for doing your apprenticeship for this and a host of other reasons which you can see here.

So if you’re ready to start an apprenticeship - why not get in touch with us and see if we can help you start in a career? After all, an EGT apprenticeship just make sense!