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One of the big advantages of a vocational education is that you are employed and paid while you learn. As a train fitter apprentice, you receive apprentice pay — even during the periods when you are at school. You are not paying to study; you are earning money while you do.

§Where does the salary come from?

Your apprentice wages are set in a collective agreement — an agreement between employers and trade unions in the industry. It is not something an individual company sets freely; the rates follow the agreement in the field. This means that as an apprentice you have agreed minimum terms in your corner regardless of which company you are in.

§Why does the salary increase over the course?

The apprentice wages are typically step-wise: they start lowest at the beginning and increase as you progress further in the education. The logic is simple — the more you can the more you are worth to the company and that is reflected in the wages. At the beginning you can't do as much yet at the end you can work almost like a skilled worker.

• 01You get paid in both school and practical periods
• 02The rate is agreed in the collective agreement not set freely by the company
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• 04As an adult apprentice there may be special often higher rates

§Are you an adult when you start?

If you start the training at a slightly older age, you may be covered by the adult apprenticeship scheme. Here, often different — typically higher — wage conditions apply than for very young apprentices. It depends on your age, your background and the specific agreement, so it is worth clarifying before you sign.

§When you are trained.

As a fully trained train preparer you are skilled and paid as a skilled employee according to the agreement in your work area. You have a recognised journeyman's certificate and that gives you a stronger position on the labour market than unskilled work.

“You do not invest money in your training — you get paid while it builds your future.”