Apprentices can be profitable. I was one and later had access to invoices we sent.
Ok that company did some ... creative ... billing.
But even without that I believe it's not too hard to break at least even.
Doing low-priority work, stuff at the bottom of the backlog is im my exerience totally possible fairly quickly, billable and can offset the senior time used because code reviews require more feedback and some general guidance usually.
Apprenticeships here have a fixed government set duration if you want your degree. And it's difficult to change companies. The durations are set in a way it's profitable to take apprentices. During the last year they're usually as productive as any junior dev, at a pocket change salary.
Ok that company did some ... creative ... billing.
But even without that I believe it's not too hard to break at least even.
Doing low-priority work, stuff at the bottom of the backlog is im my exerience totally possible fairly quickly, billable and can offset the senior time used because code reviews require more feedback and some general guidance usually.
Apprenticeships here have a fixed government set duration if you want your degree. And it's difficult to change companies. The durations are set in a way it's profitable to take apprentices. During the last year they're usually as productive as any junior dev, at a pocket change salary.