Age, ill health and worker's rights.

Niece is 16 and started an apprenticeship when she left school last June. She is apprenticed to her cousin who is a beautician. Niece has a very unpleasant,. life threatening disease (FSGS) which causes malabsorption of proteins; her cousin was aware that she had this disease before she was offered the apprenticeship. Recently she has become more unwell - spent two nights/days in hospital in the past two weeks, and the employer now seems to be having second thoughts about the apprenticeship. Her boss has suggested that she withdraw from this year's work and rejoin next year. She is not sympathetic or concerned, never even asked how Niece's health was when she returned to work. and my niece is concerned that if she does withdraw, the apprenticeship will not be re-offered next year. She loves her job - no doubt about it - and this uncertainty is making her illness even worse - the stress is really getting her down. She would prefer to be able to continue with her apprenticeship but is aware that the situation is not good. Does she have any rights, given her age, her lack of work history and her very worrying health issues. What would be her best way forward? It is very likely to cause severe issues within the family whatever happens but so far we've persuaded her to wait and see what her legal situation is before doing anything that might jeopardise an already delicate situation. Are you able to advise, please?