40 Yrs Old - Trainee / Apprenticeships

40 Yrs Old - Trainee / Apprenticeships

Author
Discussion

Tekno

Original Poster:

204 posts

108 months

Wednesday 8th February 2023
quotequote all
Hi Team,

So, have worked in office roles until a couple of years ago. Tried HGV, tramping etc and it’s not what I want to do for the next 25 years.

Whilst I was on a good wage prior to leaving office work (65k), I don’t actually have any formal qualifications, degree etc. I can’t work weekends due to personal commitments. I’m incredibly work focused, excellent work ethic, honest, loyal etc. I’m very good at forging and retaining working relationships, customer service.

What I don’t want to do is work for a firm earning 25/35k in an office. A lot of management positions are offering this type of wage, which I don’t understand.

So, as I’m presently without any substantial outgoings (mortgage/rent free), I imagined a trainee or junior role with training so that once completed, I can be in the 45-60k bracket. I will need to apply for a mortgage in the next few years.

Obviously, anything in the automotive sector would be advantageous. I’m in the South East, near Woking.

Has anyone any ideas as to where to turn? Any companies that offer a low wage but with thorough training with good earning potential as the end result?

I’ve got a chunk of cash that I could put / pay towards training.

Thanks..

Countdown

42,039 posts

203 months

Wednesday 8th February 2023
quotequote all
Accountancy? If you get a trainee position with one of the Big 4 then you'll be on £45k once qualified.

but it means 3 years of no evenings/weekends.

Tekno

Original Poster:

204 posts

108 months

Wednesday 8th February 2023
quotequote all
Thanks - numbers/maths isn’t one of my stronger skills unfortunately.

Doofus

28,469 posts

180 months

Wednesday 8th February 2023
quotequote all
What did you do before?

MBVitoria

2,505 posts

230 months

Wednesday 8th February 2023
quotequote all
Doofus said:
What did you do before?
I'm also intrigued? £65k with no qualifications or degree is very good going.



Tekno

Original Poster:

204 posts

108 months

Wednesday 8th February 2023
quotequote all
I was General Manager in an aftermarket automotive company. This was inclusive of bonus.

Aunty Pasty

727 posts

45 months

Wednesday 8th February 2023
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I live in Woking and my son has just started an apprenticeship with Fujitsu in Bracknell. He is one of the youngest apprentices there. They have apprentices from all sorts of ages and backgrounds. Fujitsu do many different things so maybe explore if they have anything of interest to you.

Tekno

Original Poster:

204 posts

108 months

Wednesday 8th February 2023
quotequote all
Aunty Pasty said:
I live in Woking and my son has just started an apprenticeship with Fujitsu in Bracknell. He is one of the youngest apprentices there. They have apprentices from all sorts of ages and backgrounds. Fujitsu do many different things so maybe explore if they have anything of interest to you.
Thanks - I know a chap that has been there since the dawn of time. He’s presently in the Royal Surrey with days left in him but a source of conversation for my mother as his friend - thanks.

SWoll

19,167 posts

265 months

Wednesday 15th February 2023
quotequote all
One of the few sectors likely to offer that kind of progression is IT as they're absolutely crying out for new blood.

My son is about to start a 2 year Cyber Security apprenticeship, 18 years old, A-Levels, some PT work experience and a bit of online training via https://www.itpro.tv/ (A brilliant resource BTW).

They're starting him on £30k per year and he'll be working remotely 99% of the time. I reckon he could easily be on £100k+ by the time he's 25.


Doofus

28,469 posts

180 months

Wednesday 15th February 2023
quotequote all
SWoll said:
One of the few sectors likely to offer that kind of progression is IT as they're absolutely crying out for new blood.

My son is about to start a 2 year Cyber Security apprenticeship, 18 years old, A-Levels, some PT work experience and a bit of online training via https://www.itpro.tv/ (A brilliant resource BTW).

They're starting him on £30k per year and he'll be working remotely 99% of the time. I reckon he could easily be on £100k+ by the time he's 25.
Yes, but the OP is already 40. IT tends to dismiss older candidates.

SWoll

19,167 posts

265 months

Wednesday 15th February 2023
quotequote all
Doofus said:
SWoll said:
One of the few sectors likely to offer that kind of progression is IT as they're absolutely crying out for new blood.

My son is about to start a 2 year Cyber Security apprenticeship, 18 years old, A-Levels, some PT work experience and a bit of online training via https://www.itpro.tv/ (A brilliant resource BTW).

They're starting him on £30k per year and he'll be working remotely 99% of the time. I reckon he could easily be on £100k+ by the time he's 25.
Yes, but the OP is already 40. IT tends to dismiss older candidates.
Not at the minute it doesn't, and 40 is no age anyway. Nowhere near enough youngsters coming through to close the massive skills gap across the industry, if there were the government wouldn't be significantly subsidizing £30k jobs for 18 year old school leavers.

Doofus

28,469 posts

180 months

Wednesday 15th February 2023
quotequote all
SWoll said:
Not at the minute it doesn't, and 40 is no age anyway. Nowhere near enough youngsters coming through to close the massive skills gap across the industry, if there were the government wouldn't be significantly subsidizing £30k jobs for 18 year old school leavers.
I know. But saying your son could be earning £100k by 25 isn't much help to an OP who's nearly 40.

Tekno

Original Poster:

204 posts

108 months

Thursday 16th February 2023
quotequote all
Good points made, gents - thanks. I’ll look into these.

I need something to occupy my time other than browsing PH & AT!


Raymond Reddington

2,982 posts

117 months

Friday 17th February 2023
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Seeing as you're in Woking, you could train up to make carbon composite parts at a small sub contract supplier to F1 teams, and then go and work at Mclaren. The other teams pay 50-60k plus bonus for such a position so id imagine mclaren is similar. I wouldn't recommend it as a career but most of my colleagues are happy enough doing the job.

mike80

2,287 posts

223 months

Friday 17th February 2023
quotequote all
Following with interest. I've done the same job for 15 years, I really enjoy it and it's given me the opportunity to travel all over the world, but the pay is average, and there's no real progression beyond where I am now (small company). I can't see my boss suddenly deciding to pay me an extra £20k or whatever!

I think I'd like a change, but at 40 with a family etc. it's difficult. I would be happy with something that pays OK and I could train / study in the evenings and weekends, but who knows whether such a thing exists. Any pointers would be appreciated.

161BMW

1,697 posts

172 months

Sunday 9th April 2023
quotequote all
Raymond Reddington said:
Seeing as you're in Woking, you could train up to make carbon composite parts at a small sub contract supplier to F1 teams, and then go and work at Mclaren. The other teams pay 50-60k plus bonus for such a position so id imagine mclaren is similar. I wouldn't recommend it as a career but most of my colleagues are happy enough doing the job.
how hard is this to get into ?

expensivegarms

680 posts

204 months

Sunday 9th April 2023
quotequote all
https://careers.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/job/NA-2023-...

Brilliant place to work, lots of room to progress if you have the right mindset. However, as a jointer/linesman, you'd have to commit to a standby rota, which does unfortunately include weekends. It's possible to get rid of them, but can be challenging at times. Basic once qualified and progress up the bands (within 5 years) is nearly 40k, can easily be doubled and more if you want to put the hours in. That said, it's a bloody good apprentice wage as well!

It's a brilliant job, and can quite easily make a career out of it as well. People are for the most part decent as well!

Raymond Reddington

2,982 posts

117 months

Sunday 9th April 2023
quotequote all
161BMW said:
how hard is this to get into ?
Well I got in to it when I was 17 and I'm a moron so not very laugh

trashbat

6,008 posts

160 months

Sunday 9th April 2023
quotequote all
UK public sector or adjacent, like the BBC, often offers apprenticeships and has a track record of turning later-in-life folk into software engineers or whatever else. Entry pay will reflect that though, it won't be much, but after a few years of success you would have good employability and could work elsewhere.

MitchT

16,230 posts

216 months

Sunday 9th April 2023
quotequote all
SWoll said:
Doofus said:
SWoll said:
One of the few sectors likely to offer that kind of progression is IT as they're absolutely crying out for new blood.

My son is about to start a 2 year Cyber Security apprenticeship, 18 years old, A-Levels, some PT work experience and a bit of online training via https://www.itpro.tv/ (A brilliant resource BTW).

They're starting him on £30k per year and he'll be working remotely 99% of the time. I reckon he could easily be on £100k+ by the time he's 25.
Yes, but the OP is already 40. IT tends to dismiss older candidates.
Not at the minute it doesn't, and 40 is no age anyway. Nowhere near enough youngsters coming through to close the massive skills gap across the industry, if there were the government wouldn't be significantly subsidizing £30k jobs for 18 year old school leavers.
Another vote for IT here.

Last September, after 25 years in graphic design and six days after my 48th birthday, I became a trainee cloud engineer within a financial services provider. Started in the £30k ballpark - already much more than my best paid graphic design job. Moving from "trainee" to "associate" in due course should take me to the high 30s and once I drop the "associate" tag I should be in the high 40s/low 50s. Beyond that, "senior" should get me into the 60s and potentially higher.

When I joined I was told there are about 25k graduates for 120k vacancies every year, hence why they're looking at taking on trainees.