Training fee clawback

[Andyboy1970]

Hi,
My Son worked for a large estate agent chain from June 25 until November 25, as part of his contract of employment it stated –
REPAYMENT OF TRAINING COSTS In our engagement with you, we will pay for you to attend our [June Academy], in which we have paid for you to have bespoke training to start your career as a Residential Sales Consultant. In consideration of this, you agree that if your employment terminates after we have incurred liability for the cost of you doing so you will be liable to repay some or all of the fees, expenses and other costs (the "Costs") associated with such training courses, up to £5,000. If you resign from your employment, you shall repay us as follows: a) if you cease employment before you attend the training course but we have already incurred liability for the Costs, 100% of the Costs or such proportion of the Costs that we cannot recover shall be repaid; b) if you cease employment during the training course or within 12 months of completing the training course, 100% of the Costs shall be repaid. Thereafter, no repayment shall be required.
They have of course asked for the full £5000 for the 1-week course. No formal qualifications came from this course; it was more about closing deals and using their systems.
We have twice asked for a breakdown of the training costs and so far, they haven’t provided this. October 2025 (While on notice) and January 2026.
Prior to handing in his notice he had a meeting with his manager who inferred he was going to be let go, so he proactively went and found another job.
Sorry for the long post but, can they refuse to provide a breakdown of the costs?
Also as it was a requirement to get the job that he completed the training can he be charged for this?

[PallasAthena]

Was the training run by the emplloyer in-house or were they paying an outside training company?

[Andyboy1970]

Was the training run by the emplloyer in-house or were they paying an outside training company?

It was an in-house training course.
They did pay for travel, sustenance and hotel accomodation for the 5 days he was there.

[Andyboy1970]

Had a reply back today, stating the clawback is to cover "our investment into the design, implementation and delivery of the specific training programme. The costs relate specifically to your time in the company as I understand you attended the training course for 2-weeks which, through direct coaching and training, equipped you with key brand-new knowledge and insight into the role and industry as an individual without any prior experience. Specifically, the amount relates to the full cost of the structured training programme you were enrolled in and includes the design and implementation of the training programme stated above, instructor fees/training management team resource, senior management resource spent in training time, materials used, equipment provided and delivered, venue costs, administrative overhead, food, beverages, and any travel, plus the overall programme expense.

The £5,000 figure reflects the overall investment made in your onboarding and development. These terms were shared with you before your formal acceptance of the role to ensure transparency from the outset. The contractual position is clear, and payroll has applied the standard process in line with those terms."

He only completed a 1 week training course and to my mind this still isn't a complete breakdown.

[Andyboy1970]

They are now classing this as a debt.

[atticus]

This kind of contractual requirement for repayment of training cost in the event of leaving employment within a stated period after completion of the course is common.

You are right to press for a breakdown of the cost of this course to the employer.

Also, how many people were on this course? I would be looking at whether there was in fact any additional cost to the employer of your son attending this course on those dates.

Obviously there is the travel and accommodation etc.

[Andyboy1970]

Thanks for your reply.
My son is only 20 years old so I’m challenging this on his behalf. Obviously, it’s causing him a lot of anxiety and stress.
He has informed me that he never claimed for his travel (Own car) and only used 2 of the £30 meal credits (out of 5 supplied). These were charged against the room. The total bill for the hotel was under £500. He never got a copy of the bill, but he did get a glimpse of it.
There was a total of 10 people on his course. This course was shortened to 1 week instead of 2.