Trainee never gripping tool (6)
I believe the answer is:
novice
'trainee' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
'never gripping tool' is the wordplay.
'never' becomes 'no' (I've seen this in other clues).
'gripping tool' becomes 'vice' (I've seen this before).
'no'+'vice'='NOVICE'
(Other definitions for novice that I've seen before include "Convert" , "Noob" , "New member (of religious order)" , "Trainee monk" , "A beginner or student nun" .)