Doing an apprenticeship later in life.

Crowstalker

Well-Known Member
Anyone here done or know someone who has done an apprenticeship later in life?

I am thinking of doing one later this year, the main concern for me is quite a drop in salary for a year or 2 with a mortage etc to pay. It would really be a stuggle monterary wise until I was fully trained.

Once fully trained I would be slightly better off than I am now so not a massive big plus in terms of money but it's something I could see doing for quite a long time. There really isn't any other way into the job except through an apprenticeship as it is quite a niche job.

Tia
 
Anyone here done or know someone who has done an apprenticeship later in life?

I am thinking of doing one later this year, the main concern for me is quite a drop in salary for a year or 2 with a mortage etc to pay. It would really be a stuggle monterary wise until I was fully trained.

Once fully trained I would be slightly better off than I am now so not a massive big plus in terms of money but it's something I could see doing for quite a long time. There really isn't any other way into the job except through an apprenticeship as it is quite a niche job.

Tia
I think it would depend on what age you are now. If you are say 55, that would only give you 12 years to earn before retiring.

If the new career is something you really want to do, then go for it.

You could always get a second job at weekends to make up for the drop in earnings, until your new trade starts to reap the rewards.
 
Anyone here done or know someone who has done an apprenticeship later in life?

I am thinking of doing one later this year, the main concern for me is quite a drop in salary for a year or 2 with a mortage etc to pay. It would really be a stuggle monterary wise until I was fully trained.

Once fully trained I would be slightly better off than I am now so not a massive big plus in terms of money but it's something I could see doing for quite a long time. There really isn't any other way into the job except through an apprenticeship as it is quite a niche job.

Tia
Does the apprenticeship in question have opportunities for 'homers'? I've had a couple of late entry apprentices over the years and I think they really only managed by having sufficient savings to carry them through the lean years.
 
Some apprenticeships can command above average salaries

Crane operating you can earn good money base salary, extra OT

Work life balance is way way off though.

If it’s a domestic trade and you can get through the years till you are worth the wages then go for it.
 
as my dad used to say “ it’s not where or what you are now, where you want to be in the future “
A few words I’ve always kept to throughout, SO irrespective of age etc, good planning onboard go for it
Looking back won’t get you there

Good luck 👍.
 
Thanks folks some good advice and wisdom, I currently am working in grounds maintenance etc but there are times when it's very heavy work and while I'm relatively young early 30s it's too heavy work for when your older.

The apprenticeship is for a government run utility sector and I'm lead to believe they are excellent to work for. I'm thinking short term pain and long term gain.
 
as my dad used to say “ it’s not where or what you are now, where you want to be in the future “
A few words I’ve always kept to throughout, SO irrespective of age etc, good planning onboard go for it
Looking back won’t get you there

Good luck 👍.
I really like that quote
 
Uni students do loans they pay back laterso why not talk to your bank to get some shekels to top up the lean years.
In my day apprenticeships all ran for 5 years with the first year spent as a gopher/tea maker.
 
Go for it @Crowstalker , you're young enough to benefit.

Not exactly apprenticeships, but two people I know well changed direction in life and have zero regrets.

#1. A chap working for UK Power Networks or their predecessors, earning bloody good coin quit and went back to uni to get a degree in marine biology, he now works all around the world, has met fantastic people, including a lass who became his wife...

#2. A chap in management at a big airconditioning firm, he already had a degree in mechanical engineering but went back to night school to finish of modules concerning electrics & plumbing, he left his work and set up his own one-man band electrical & plumbing business, fully qualified... he has now also set up another company doing Solar & Air Source heating.

Both chaps are as happy as sand boys....
 
In your thirties you’ve barely got started 😁
Plenty of time for one, or more, changes.
The only decision you’ll regret is the one you didn’t take when you had the chance.
What’s the worst that could happen?
 
I started my apprenticeship almost 32 years ago just 2 weeks after my 16th birthday and after 4 years and a BTEC National Cert and HND I became a time served machinist. I'm still working for the same company and see lots of apprentices coming through each year. When I started it was purely school leavers but over the last 10 years we have seen a much wider age group starting their apprenticeships. I think the oldest was in their 40's when they started. If its something you want to do and it will give you more fulfilment at work or job security then go for it, you can always go back to doing your current line of work if it doesn't work out. For me apprenticeships are a better option than university, I see lots of people gong on mediocre courses, racking up large student debts and struggling to find a job above minimum wage afterwards.
 
Thanks folks some good advice and wisdom, I currently am working in grounds maintenance etc but there are times when it's very heavy work and while I'm relatively young early 30s it's too heavy work for when your older.

The apprenticeship is for a government run utility sector and I'm lead to believe they are excellent to work for. I'm thinking short term pain and long term gain.
Hello . To very heavy work sounds a good enough reason to tell the Company 👎
 
Go for it. Just had a friend to stay. A former army officer, then military attache and then in business. Late 50’s now doing teacher training and is working as probationary teacher to secondary school pupils.

He reckons he is totally reinvigorated and feels ten years younger.
 
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Go for it. Just had a friend to stay. A former army officer, then military attache and then in business. Late 50’s now doing teacher training and is working as probationary teacher to secondary school pupils.

He reckons he is totally reinvigorated and feels ten years younger.
There’s a lot of merit in the saying/quote

“Find a job you enjoy and you’ll never work a day in your life”
 
Again, not an apprenticeship but I stopped working in my mid thirties to do a degree in engineering, something I had always wanted to do. Difficult with wife and small children but we made it work. So much so that when I was qualified and had a decent salary coming in my wife did the same thing. We both ended up happier and better off. Absolutely no regrets.
 
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