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I'm not sure about £15,000 per annum whilst training under the new system being "exploitative".

I think it's likely that firms will go the 3 year apprenticeship route (as I understand that they can then use their levy or, even if they don't pay one , get 90% contribution from government towards paying for the SQE training and exam fees).

So a trainee gets 1 year of academic training (paid for by levy rather than the trainee or directly by the firm) and then 2 years of on the job (apprenticeship) training.

Even if all 3 years are paid at only £15k they still take get paid £45k and don't have to pay for their SQE training or to sit the exam (saving them £12k compared to the current system if they self-fund as most do).

So under the current system you get paid say 40k (2 years at £20k recommended salary) and have an extra 12k debt. Net money £28k (less tax). And it takes 3 years to qualify.

Under new system (assuming the firm makes an offer and takes you on as apprentice before you start) it still takes 3 years but you get paid £45k and save £12k. And the tax rate will be lower too. You'll probably be £18k+ better off overall.

That sounds much less exploitative to me.

Now if the firm lets you pay for your own SQE training and then paid you minimum wage for two years you might argue that is exploitative - but that is still no worse than what can happen now - and you might well be able to at least take the SQE for less total cost than self-funding the LPC costs now.

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