Student Handbook

Alcohol and Drugs

MakeUK policy is that the learning environment should be free from the influence of drugs or alcohol.  This will help to ensure the health and safety of its trainees, employees and others with whom they come into contact, to maintain the efficient and effective operation of the learning environment.  For these reasons, the following rules will be strictly enforced.

No Apprentice shall whilst at or near a MakeUK Training Centre shall:

• Report or try to report for training when unfit[1] due to alcohol or drugs whether [2]illegal or not.

• Be in possession of alcohol, legal highs or illegal drugs in the learning environment

• Consume alcohol or illegal drugs whilst at the training centres

• Supply drugs or alcohol to other apprentices

Contravention of these rules is a very serious matter and MakeUK will take disciplinary action, which may well include exclusion, in the event of any infringement. In addition, dealing in illegal drugs on MakeUK premises will, without exception be reported to the Police.

Prescription and over-the-counter drugs

Many prescription and over-the-counter medications have side effects, some of these side effects may prove to be dangerous within an engineering / manufacturing learning environment, and therefore apprentices must inform the H&S Officer:

• If they are regularly taking medicine(s) prescribed by their GP, and know of any known or possible side effects

• If they are prescribed any medication by their GP on a short-term basis, and know of any known or possible side effects

• If they are taking / have taken any over-the-counter medications, and know of any known or possible side effects

It is illegal to give friends or colleagues drugs that have been prescribed to you through your GP or a medical consultation.

Where an apprentice contravenes MakeUK Centre rules stated above, that contravention will be dealt with under MakeUK Code of Conduct and Exclusion Policy.

However, MakeUK’s Code of Conduct and Exclusions Policy may be suspended for a reasonable period pending investigation of whether the apprentice has a medical problem amenable to treatment, and, if so, for that treatment to be undertaken.

Whether the disciplinary procedure is suspended will depend on:

• The nature of the apprentice’s alleged offence

• The evidence that the apprentice has a health related problem

• The apprentice’s willingness to be treated

Apprentices who decline to undergo appropriate treatment, or who discontinue treatment before its satisfactory completion, will be subject to the normal disciplinary procedure.

MakeUK will endeavour to ensure that advice and support is made available to any apprentice who feels they have a problem with alcohol or drug misuse. 

For apprentices who are under 18 years of age, MakeUK is obliged to inform parents / legal guardians of the situation.

Employers will be notified, if the problem results in poor performance.

The full MakeUK Drug and Alcohol policy is available on request