Which trade?

[splash gti]

I've worked in the local press for the past 18 years as a sub editor but the newspaper industry is finished and going nowhere. I've been lucky and escaped redundancy twice but I can see it coming again.

I'm keen to learn a trade but at 41 it's going to have to be at nights/weekends/weeks off, but I am unsure which one to do. I'm too old for an apprenticeship so it's going to have to be through a training centre or college and self-funded. I also have to juggle a wife and two young kids.

Electrical or plumbing are top of my list but I am unsure which one, or, in fact, if there are any better ones out there. I know a few electricians - but no plumbers - so perhaps this could help me in the future when I start to look for work or if I'm struggling with course work?

So, has anyone done this before?
What trade would you choose? And what qualifications?
Any training centres/colleges/routes recommended (Humberside/Lincolnshire area if possible, although I am willing to travel if need be)?
How long is it likely to take me?

Many thanks for any advice received.

[mr_spock]

What about designing brochures, flyers and writing web site copy? You probably already have the skills. At 41 I shouldn't think a very physical job would be a great career choice, especially as the new open EU borders will bring in lots of cheap competition.

[rog007]

I agree with Spock. Unless you are doing this as part of a lifestyle choice (i.e. you don't need the money) or you dislike what you're doing so much, then you need to maximise your current competences. In addition to Spock's ideas; what about PR, NHS/LA comms depts et al? Good luck!

[mr_spock]

How about teaching copy/layout/page design skills? Maybe to UI developers?

[splash gti]

Thanks for your replies. I did actually achieve a HND in graphic design many years ago and in the past I've done websites from scratch for friends and friends of friends.
However, working as an artist/graphic designer is usually poorly paid (I used to be studio manager for a printing company), especially away from the big cities. And low-end website design is difficult when most people want the world for nothing. Web packages and desktop publishing software have also made 'creating' a lot easier for joe public.

One of my reasons for wanting to retrain is to get away from sitting at a screen all day long in an office, without breaks, a salary whereby you have to work extra hours for nothing and the continued uncertainty of an industry that's in free-fall.

[pimping]

Is there any industry that is not getting killed off in this country?

So we've got at least 70,000 eastern block love western cock coming over so all the trade jobs are gone.

Hgv is st. Police is now st and their pension is about to die a death as has my teacher sisters pension and my army mates pension.

I'm thinking of becoming a motivational speaker after meeting a distant relative who is a life coach. Utter tool but is making a living from it.

Suck it life.

[hairyben]

If you're smart enough to be a good electrician you'd be wasted doing it. Thin pickings these days, every a-wipe thinks they can play at doing it too.

Plumbers probably do better; you can sell desirable (profitable) improvements like bathrooms & new boilers, and the a-wipes seem to fear flooding more than they do electrocution (well, b&q wouldn't sell electricals if we could properly hurt ourselves doing it would they?).