Are you an employee?
Most apprentices have employed status. This means you have the same rights as any other employee at your placement. You should have signed a contract of employment and therefore should be covered by the terms and conditions contained within.
Although you are an employee, however, you should be given the necessary time and means to complete your studying and training outside of work. This normally equates to spending around 30 hours a week on your apprenticeship. You should get a training agreement in place and are within your rights to have your terms and conditions in writing.
Holiday entitlement
Apprentices should be allowed one and a half days holiday for every month you are in training.
Payment
Since October 2010 all apprentices under the age of 19, or over 19 but in their first year of the apprentice, are entitled to a national minimum wage framework of £2.50 an hour. Previously apprentices were entitled to £95 a week minimum and apprentices under that age were completely exempt. Many employers will be willing to pay you a higher wage than this, however.
Arrangements are also in place for those in England to make sure you receive at least £95 a week even if you don’t work enough hours to achieve that. Where as these arrangements only apply in England the minimum wage rate applies to those in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland too.
For more detailed information on apprenticeships follow the links below.
www.apprenticeships.org.uk
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/educationandlearning/adultlearning/trainingandworkplacelearning/dg_4001327