Cadetship: the figures!

[liam]

How well payed is a cadetship? Ino clyde pay ?175 but cant find any info on maersk, bibby or any other companies. Any info wud b appreciated

[saltydog]

Hi Liam,

Bibby Ship Management pay ?600 p/m for the first year, ?650 p/m for the second year and ?700 p/m for the third year.

Carisbrooke pay ?650 p/m.

I believe if you are doing the FD you can take out a student loan in your first year, but HND student's can only take it out in their third phase.

Even though a company might pay more, make sure that you research the company etc..Do they give you a contract after? What do other's say? etc...Don't just get lured in.

Salty

[Steve]

RFA cadet annual salaries are from ?14,618 to ?18,843 depending on entry qualifications and seniority.

[liam]

Thanks lads, any info on maersk? Not a lot on here..

[HarmlessWeasel]

Hi Liam,

believe if you are doing the FD you can take out a student loan in your first year, but HND student's can only take it out in their third year.

I think HND can get a loan in third phase, not third year.

[GuinnessMan]

I think you need to be careful taking loans out to be honest as you shouldn't really need one as you're being paid a subsistence allowance (it's not a wage).

[Polaris]

I think you need to be careful taking loans out to be honest as you shouldn't really need one as you're being paid a subsistence allowance (it's not a wage).

I fully agree, don't just take it out for the sake of it and blow it all.

I've taken them out twice and I've barely touch a penny of it. It's sitting in an ISA with about 3% interest so it's doing something. I own my own place and have dependents so it's a nice backup to sitting there if something should happen.

[GuinnessMan]

I fully agree, don't just take it out for the sake of it and blow it all.

I've taken them out twice and I've barely touch a penny of it. It's sitting in an ISA with about 3% interest so it's doing something. I own my own place and have dependents so it's a nice backup to sitting there if something should happen.

That's actually quite a Smart move and very responsible of you.

One of the great things about doing a cadetship is that you should come out of it without any debt. I have known lads to go out and take out massive student loans, have multiple student accounts (yes I know) all maxed out and what not and to be honest, that is not something you really want to do be doing.

[chris]

Out of interest, why are the rfa cadet wages so much higher than the training agencies?

[GuinnessMan]

Out of interest, why are the rfa cadet wages so much higher than the training agencies?

Because they are wages, as in they are paying tax and national insurance and are fully employed. With the training agencies you are just sponsored and as such don't receive a wage but a subsistence allowance (because you're not paying tax or National Insurance).

[chris]

even so still a large difference even allowing for tax and NI.

Take the system engineer cadet salary of ?15,629 subtract tax and national insurance and its still ?13,018

Most cadets are on ?8,000 or less after tax and NI.

[Steve]

Out of interest, why are the rfa cadet wages so much higher than the training agencies?

Because the RFA is competing for the 'best' candidates. I vaguely recall BP and Shell cadet salaries being not too far behind. In the old days, when more companies sponsored their own cadets, there were more companies paying competitive salaries.

[chris]

I suppose its compensation for passing the AIB. I'm surpirsed the wages are so high though given all the defence cuts.

[Steve]

I suppose its compensation for passing the AIB. I'm surpirsed the wages are so high though given all the defence cuts.

RFA cadets were amongst the best paid before the AIB and BRNC nonsense started.

Salaries across the MoD have been frozen or given pitiful increases, but not overtly cut. Cadets have actually received the highest salary increases in the last few years as they meet the government definition of 'low pay' (<?20,000).

[Lewis]

Out of interest, why are the rfa cadet wages so much higher than the training agencies?

Because it's run by the government and it's easier to spend other people's money than it is to spend your own.