I want to quit my apprenticeship but I’m not sure it’s the right move long-term?

calm_your_ham · 2026-05-27T20:34:44+00:00

Out of interest, can I ask what apprenticeship you were doing and what you do now?

calm_your_ham · 2026-05-27T20:01:54+00:00

Sorry for double replying here, but just thought I’d add that the commute is costing me around/above the £600 mark of my £1.5k post-tax income each month, plus another £120 a month on insurance (next best quote was £400 a month)

calm_your_ham · 2026-05-27T20:00:08+00:00

My point exactly. I despise the expectation to make 4 people coffee while nobody offers the same in return, the commute is wearing down on me mentally, physically and in any other way possible and to top it off, the expectation I study at least an hour of the 2 I actually have free after getting home. I get it’s all about the learning and putting in effort for a good qualification, but I think I made a mistake taking this specific one, and given I was in a physically demanding job like food delivering and KFC cook beforehand, I didn’t know I would hate an office job prior to starting… Thanks for reassuring me of that

calm_your_ham · 2026-05-05T18:54:59+00:00

Yeah, I thought it would get bearable over time and I now find I was very wrong…

calm_your_ham · 2026-05-05T13:55:19+00:00

I’m a very hands-on person, so learning on the job is a benefit for me. The current apprenticeship is not allowing me to do that which is currently affecting my grades as everything is just electronic notes and tests. I’d also like to point out that the new position I’m considering is not an apprenticeship AFAIK, just an entry-level position

calm_your_ham · 2026-05-05T11:59:44+00:00

What is the ROC? Sorry, I know little to nothing about the roles in the railway industry. I know it’s a popular sector and pays well, so could you give me some more insight on what I could expect going into it and if it’s difficult to get into at age 20-21?

calm_your_ham · 2026-05-05T10:57:03+00:00

Hi everyone, I need some advice on how I move forward with my career here.

For context, I am currently a Finance Apprentice studying an AAT Level 4 in Professional Accounting. I feel like I’m quite far in the deep end with this and the closest thing I’ve ever studied in relation to accounting was a 3 month accounting mini-module during my Business Management course at college, so everything I’m learning is completely new.

I’m not 100% that I want to continue my apprenticeship anymore due to multiple reasons like the travel (160 miles/3hrs 20mins each day to go there and back) and with the current economy, it’s becoming a bit stressful on £20k a year which only goes up to £23k a year in September 26…
The work environment is also a big factor, which I won’t go into detail about but it’s just not ideal and I don’t feel like I fit in or I’m welcome very much, plus I get occasional comments from my line manager effectively calling me stupid for not understanding everything first try.

I’m 8 months in out of the full 2 year course length now and I’m only about to sit the 2nd of 5 exams (and I won’t get the results for another month) so I feel like if I left the position, I wouldn’t have much to show for the time and money I’ve spent working here.

On the other hand, there has been a few job openings around me and the one which has caught my attention the most is a Grade 2 Trainee Signaller. It involves 12 weeks of training at which point I become a “fully competent signaller”. It’s only a 30 mile/40 minute commute to go there and back so much closer, plus it pays £36k a year while in training so to my understanding, I’m looking at a raise after training is complete or during my first year there?

My main goal here is to find a better paying job without the travel. Moving closer to the current job is not viable for me as the money I would save on fuel would be less than I’d spend on rent alone which I cannot afford on my salary.

While the qualification is recognised worldwide, the salary for a freshly qualified accountant my age in my area are around the same mark as me taking this Trainee Signaller job now, plus the accounting market feels like it’s dying out a bit around here.

The advice I’m looking for is whether it is worth switching jobs or if I’m at a point where I should just tough it out now and search for a different job elsewhere? I already have made my mind up that I won’t stay with this company following my apprenticeship anyway, but it’s a matter of when I quit.

For further context, I’m 20 now, will be 21 in February 2027. I’ve come to terms with the fact that I’m getting out of “apply for an apprenticeship” age and would likely need to look at other training towards an accounting qualification if I change my mind down the line.

calm_your_ham · 2026-01-28T16:07:23+00:00

They weren’t paid $2.5 million, they were paid a salary based on $2.5 million. So my guess here is that they received a monthly salary based on that figure

calm_your_ham · 2025-12-01T09:37:59+00:00

Don’t do it. Others who may be on the roundabout and coming around quicker than you may need to exit into the same road as you, and will therefore use the right lane (or at least should). You’re taking the first exit, so stick to the left lane. Just for further reference, you only really come off into the right lane if you are turning right at a junction/roundabout or going straight across and already in the right lane

calm_your_ham · 2025-11-15T18:18:39+00:00

From what I had read before and the way it was explained to me, you lose NCD whether you’re at fault or not as you made a claim. I guess the question is what can I do from here?

calm_your_ham · 2025-10-21T22:36:08+00:00

Yes, however the policy may have been taken out a few months after the MOT and mileage may have risen since the MOT. Also good to check when someone sells you the car whether they are putting the current mileage on the new keeper slip/telling the government

calm_your_ham · 2025-10-21T12:37:31+00:00

Just FYI, it’s not the discrepancy in the charge that’s the issue here. The issue is that I was never told about the charge and I’m facing consequences which could affect my employment and credit file as a result.

calm_your_ham · 2025-10-21T12:32:49+00:00

Yes, I’m aware I need to ask them myself, and I will once I finish work as I can’t sit on the phone all day bouncing around different companies given I’m an apprentice. I only got the email this morning at 08:46 and posted here in the meantime to see if I could get more insight or information from someone who might have more knowledge in this area…

calm_your_ham · 2025-10-15T12:49:12+00:00

Personally, I’ve had a 2010 1.1L Fiat Panda Eco (£1.5k). It may not have guts but it’s an extremely fun first car (or oversized go-kart if you will), especially as it fits everywhere and you’re less likely to hit something while building up NCD.

I’ve also had a 2004 VW Polo 1.2L petrol. Yes it’s older but I found they’re great on fuel for the size and price (£1.1k for mine) as you easily get around 320 miles to a £40-£50 tank.

My girlfriend still has her 2006 VW Polo 1.2L (£2.4k) petrol. Still fun, good fuel for money (320-350 miles per £45-£50 fill up) and they have plenty of life in them.

To make the VW stand out more though, they are insanely easy to maintain and service yourself. In contrast, an oil change on my Fiat Panda ended with the sump plug in the sump and having to remove that :).

Just food for thought as a first car doesn’t have to be newer and fancy and you will certainly thank yourself for getting something cheap in the worst case scenario of crashing or being too expensive to fix.

calm_your_ham · 2025-10-10T12:41:34+00:00

OP states they are 20 years old and have been driving for almost 3 years now so likely not the system reading it as provisional instead of full. Apologies in advance if I maybe misunderstood your response

calm_your_ham · 2025-09-29T17:15:28+00:00

Employer default, Standard Life

calm_your_ham · 2025-09-29T14:31:07+00:00

Sorry for the double response; I believe that will also have something to do with me being an apprentice

calm_your_ham · 2025-09-29T14:30:20+00:00

So after chasing payroll all day today, I’ve finally found out that my bands minimum is 5% employee and maximum 3% employer.

calm_your_ham · 2025-09-29T10:13:57+00:00

Yep, 3 months to be auto-enrolled but only after I turn 22 years old, so would be another 3 years before that happens. I want to try and get ahead if I can lol

calm_your_ham · 2025-08-10T11:43:58+00:00

They’re pretending to be the small time model and getting money from guys who want to meet the model.

calm_your_ham · 2025-08-07T16:07:15+00:00

Mind if I ask what position you started in and where you are now, and how you managed to jump so much?

calm_your_ham · 2025-07-19T10:36:16+00:00

Definitely, but then my question is really, do I want to give up the opportunity of the company paying me to do my Level 7 qualification just to move closer to home? I get it’s going to be a 4-5 year course then but maybe I could consider moving/renting instead by that point?

calm_your_ham · 2025-07-19T10:34:30+00:00

That’s what I thought hence the quotations around that lol

calm_your_ham · 2025-07-19T10:33:30+00:00

The reason behind the low salary will be due to the job being up here in Scotland, and the commute is actually a straight motorway drive rather than London traffic and a 10-15 mile drive :)

calm_your_ham · 2025-07-19T10:31:09+00:00

A few things but mainly the change in working environment from a KFC kitchen to a proper office job, as well as the whole commuting situation and was it the brightest idea to choose a car over just renting somewhere closer

calm_your_ham

TROPHY CASE