Career-change / Apprenticeship at 36. Why can't I get one?
Discussion
Using my secondary account here... I'm about to turn 36. I've worked 7 years in corporate office roles in software sales. Prior to that, 7 years on a big farm.
The tech/software industry is being decimated by AI and at the end of 2025 I got made redundant. I tried to get a similar role but no luck so I've been working a minimum wage job for the past few months. It's been a rather spectacular fall from grace going from £70k (excluding commission) to £28k and I've accepted the fact that the glory days are over.
The past 2-years I'd been thinking about a career-change because I knew sales with soft skills would only last for so long; I want to get into the trades, learn real practical valuable skills where I can see genuine tangible results at the end of the day, and build a longterm valuable career where I can be useful for a long time. My redundancy last year gave me the kick I needed to pursue this change.
7 months on, no luck. I feel like I have a lot of experience- I'm sensible, mature, bring responsibility, have life experience, and I'm not too old to be considered a dinosaur. I've got practical experience from my 7 years farming work (machinery, equipment, hands-on) and communication + organisation from corporate.
I've applied to apprenticeships that take my interest such as:
- gas heating/heat pumps/renewables (not domestic)
- refrigeration maintenance/engineer / HVAC (again, not domestic)
- HGV (heavy goods vehicle) technician
- Fire & Security
Note: These are only Level 3 so only GCSE's are required which I got straight B's in back in 2007 or whenever. I'd say 50% of my applications get no interest, the other 50% I do hear back, whether that be making through to the next round and so on etc.... But there are not many roles actually advertised, despite all the research and people telling me that these industries are screaming out for new people. I see it as a catch-22 situation... companies don't want to invest the time it takes to train someone up, but because they're so busy, don't want to take an experienced engineer off jobs, and will just turn down work instead.
I've attended some assessment centres. National Grid, Vital Energy, a really reputable industrial refrigeration company, had interviews with others etc.
The last straw was at an assessment centre recently that I attended when I was down to the final 5, where I was up against 17-19 year olds for the one role. Someone there was 16 ffs (albeit a for a different location). I KNOW I was the best there. I scored the highest in the practical assessment (stripping and wiring a plug), almost the highest in the "knowledge paper", I felt I did great in my interview, asked questions throughout the day but didn't go too mad with it, made sure I was really enthusiastic (which I genuinely was). The "kids" seemed like they had nothing to them.
All this is burning so much time. Applying, getting a day off work to attend an opportunity, travelling 3-hours by car for another, paying for a Travel Lodge etc. Getting the rejection emails with NO feedback.
I'm genuinely at the point where I do not know why no one wants to take me on. I have savings to supplement the low wage for the first 2-3 years. I know after qualifying I'll probably land on £40k going up to £50-55k after a few years and settling at that which I'm content with. I know how hard I'm willing to work to make this career-change a success. I'm fit, completed a full distance Ironman just less than 2 months, and I'm still relatively young with energy.
I'm Bristol based if anyone has anything going in the areas I've mentioned!
All suggestions are very much welcomed.
The tech/software industry is being decimated by AI and at the end of 2025 I got made redundant. I tried to get a similar role but no luck so I've been working a minimum wage job for the past few months. It's been a rather spectacular fall from grace going from £70k (excluding commission) to £28k and I've accepted the fact that the glory days are over.
The past 2-years I'd been thinking about a career-change because I knew sales with soft skills would only last for so long; I want to get into the trades, learn real practical valuable skills where I can see genuine tangible results at the end of the day, and build a longterm valuable career where I can be useful for a long time. My redundancy last year gave me the kick I needed to pursue this change.
7 months on, no luck. I feel like I have a lot of experience- I'm sensible, mature, bring responsibility, have life experience, and I'm not too old to be considered a dinosaur. I've got practical experience from my 7 years farming work (machinery, equipment, hands-on) and communication + organisation from corporate.
I've applied to apprenticeships that take my interest such as:
- gas heating/heat pumps/renewables (not domestic)
- refrigeration maintenance/engineer / HVAC (again, not domestic)
- HGV (heavy goods vehicle) technician
- Fire & Security
Note: These are only Level 3 so only GCSE's are required which I got straight B's in back in 2007 or whenever. I'd say 50% of my applications get no interest, the other 50% I do hear back, whether that be making through to the next round and so on etc.... But there are not many roles actually advertised, despite all the research and people telling me that these industries are screaming out for new people. I see it as a catch-22 situation... companies don't want to invest the time it takes to train someone up, but because they're so busy, don't want to take an experienced engineer off jobs, and will just turn down work instead.
I've attended some assessment centres. National Grid, Vital Energy, a really reputable industrial refrigeration company, had interviews with others etc.
The last straw was at an assessment centre recently that I attended when I was down to the final 5, where I was up against 17-19 year olds for the one role. Someone there was 16 ffs (albeit a for a different location). I KNOW I was the best there. I scored the highest in the practical assessment (stripping and wiring a plug), almost the highest in the "knowledge paper", I felt I did great in my interview, asked questions throughout the day but didn't go too mad with it, made sure I was really enthusiastic (which I genuinely was). The "kids" seemed like they had nothing to them.
All this is burning so much time. Applying, getting a day off work to attend an opportunity, travelling 3-hours by car for another, paying for a Travel Lodge etc. Getting the rejection emails with NO feedback.
I'm genuinely at the point where I do not know why no one wants to take me on. I have savings to supplement the low wage for the first 2-3 years. I know after qualifying I'll probably land on £40k going up to £50-55k after a few years and settling at that which I'm content with. I know how hard I'm willing to work to make this career-change a success. I'm fit, completed a full distance Ironman just less than 2 months, and I'm still relatively young with energy.
I'm Bristol based if anyone has anything going in the areas I've mentioned!
All suggestions are very much welcomed.
Edited by CarrotsAndCake on Thursday 16th July 20:55
Doofus said:
Can you use some of your savings to get some qualifications so that you're not applying for apprentice level jobs?
I’ve looked into it but working shifts 40hrs a week, I figured it wasn’t possible. Plus I’m sceptical how much help it would actually be or what I could do. I explored Level 2 F-Gas Category 1 regarding refrigeration, but having zero experience I’d need to do a foundation course, spend £4k+ and I could only find a company in South Wales or one further up North, both 1.5hrs drive away. I couldn’t make that work- plus no guarantees of something like that helping. I genuinely would love to do an apprenticeship.
Can you go and work for an agri machinery supplier doing routine maintenance with your knowledge and then move over to heavier stuff (big trailers etc) that would get you onto the HGV track? That's probably the less quals-heavy route from the options you listed above. My pal's son has got an apprenticeship this way but it sounds like they struggle to get good people. Scotland, so not helpful for Bristol - but I would wager that the local agri machinery supply and/or service companies struggle for good people during the harvest season. It obviously depends on whether you could take a works van out and get on with the job (oil changes, filters, belts etc) without needing handholding but it sounds like you could...
I m in fire and security
You ll probably not get a apprenticeship but look out for companies who are taking on trainees. Take a look at this JCI recruiting in Bristol
https://www.johnsoncontrols.co.uk/careers/looking-...
I know mitie also offer this, as do trinity, and churches. Most national companies like it as it’s cheap labour and then they don’t pay you a fully fledged engineer wage for a few years
https://uk.indeed.com/m/jobs?q=trainee+fire&l=...
A&E have loads of apprentices and trainees as they re cheap, then you can move onto somewhere good
You ll probably not get a apprenticeship but look out for companies who are taking on trainees. Take a look at this JCI recruiting in Bristol
https://www.johnsoncontrols.co.uk/careers/looking-...
I know mitie also offer this, as do trinity, and churches. Most national companies like it as it’s cheap labour and then they don’t pay you a fully fledged engineer wage for a few years
https://uk.indeed.com/m/jobs?q=trainee+fire&l=...
A&E have loads of apprentices and trainees as they re cheap, then you can move onto somewhere good
Edited by Quattr04. on Thursday 16th July 21:56
Edited by Quattr04. on Thursday 16th July 22:01
Quattr04. said:
I m in fire and security
You ll probably not get a apprenticeship but look out for companies who are taking on trainees. Take a look at this JCI recruiting in Bristol
https://www.johnsoncontrols.co.uk/careers/looking-...
I know mitie also offer this, as do trinity, and churches. Most national companies like it as it s cheap labour and then they don t pay you a fully fledged engineer wage for a few years
https://uk.indeed.com/m/jobs?q=trainee+fire&l=...
A&E have loads of apprentices and trainees as they re cheap, then you can move onto somewhere good
So I actually applied a few months ago to the Johnson Controls Fire & Security apprenticeship they were recruiting for. I eventually got invited to their assessment centre at very short notice (after me chasing them up) but the day it was on, I was in Austria getting ready for my Ironman. I asked them if they had any other days and they said no. So that was that…You ll probably not get a apprenticeship but look out for companies who are taking on trainees. Take a look at this JCI recruiting in Bristol
https://www.johnsoncontrols.co.uk/careers/looking-...
I know mitie also offer this, as do trinity, and churches. Most national companies like it as it s cheap labour and then they don t pay you a fully fledged engineer wage for a few years
https://uk.indeed.com/m/jobs?q=trainee+fire&l=...
A&E have loads of apprentices and trainees as they re cheap, then you can move onto somewhere good
Edited by Quattr04. on Thursday 16th July 21:56
Edited by Quattr04. on Thursday 16th July 22:01
My brother wife was a teacher but left to do an apprenticeship with national highways. She was around 45 when she joined, definitely on the older end compared to other but helped her process quicker out of her time. I think as other have said I think there is an age limit for funding.
Given your location, 'if I was you' I would be learning to weld and walking on down to Hinckley!
In all seriousness though I have put employees through this outfit (https://train4all.co.uk/) for training in basic trades and they have told me of the number of bods getting welding courses under their belts and then disappearing off to Hinckley Point. This isnt to suggest you will become a coded welder and walk in there but it could be a start?
Either way I really wish you the best of luck and sincerely hope you get the job/career you want! Go for it!
In all seriousness though I have put employees through this outfit (https://train4all.co.uk/) for training in basic trades and they have told me of the number of bods getting welding courses under their belts and then disappearing off to Hinckley Point. This isnt to suggest you will become a coded welder and walk in there but it could be a start?
Either way I really wish you the best of luck and sincerely hope you get the job/career you want! Go for it!
https://careers.mitie.com/jobs/vacancy/entry-level...
Mitie taking on no experience required engineers, they have been on a buying spree and have bought up some big industry names in the last few years
Mitie taking on no experience required engineers, they have been on a buying spree and have bought up some big industry names in the last few years
I believe many companies get government funding/backing for taking on trainees/apprentices under a certain age and that is a big driver for them in deciding who to take on.
They also want "maximum return" on their training "buck" so want younger trainees.
Whilst there may be roles out there I kind of think you may be better doing some courses in your "chosen field" and then trying again for junior positions.
Central heating/plumbing/electrical/installation (solar/air con etc) are often good areas.
They also want "maximum return" on their training "buck" so want younger trainees.
Whilst there may be roles out there I kind of think you may be better doing some courses in your "chosen field" and then trying again for junior positions.
Central heating/plumbing/electrical/installation (solar/air con etc) are often good areas.
Merchant Navy cadetship/apprenticeship?
You haven't said if you have kids/family, etc, but if you're going down the engineering or electro technical route you'll get a fully funded HND or foundation degree in three years, get a small wage while you are at college or sea, and there are plenty later in life/second career folk who have gone down that path.
Nearest college to you would probably be Warsash (down in Southampton) - training would be college phases then sea training phases with your sponsoring company.
careersatsea.org
You haven't said if you have kids/family, etc, but if you're going down the engineering or electro technical route you'll get a fully funded HND or foundation degree in three years, get a small wage while you are at college or sea, and there are plenty later in life/second career folk who have gone down that path.
Nearest college to you would probably be Warsash (down in Southampton) - training would be college phases then sea training phases with your sponsoring company.
careersatsea.org
I did an apprenticeship at the start of my career. I left school after my A levels (which at the time was a little unusual as apprenticeships generally started after GSCEs) I went to various interviews and assessments. I experienced similar where I tested better than the others who ended up getting the jobs.
They ended up at the same college course where they scraped by practically failing all modules. (Due to the amount of people they sent there their employer had a lot of sway at the college so they all ended up with extra time in the summer to pass!)
I spoke to the my employer and they basically said that as they where going on to do machinery assembly jobs in factories, the companies were looking for people more suitable for that and they wanted them train them to do specific roles and to remain with the company a long time and not move on.
Therefore acing the interviews and getting top scores may not be that great. if you are too good they may be worried about retaining you as you will want and be able to do more. Its possible you may be bored as the work may be below your level and not stay.
Some of those roles just want someone with the ability to "go here" and "do that" sometimes its better to have someone of a medium level who will just plod along reliably without thinking about.
They ended up at the same college course where they scraped by practically failing all modules. (Due to the amount of people they sent there their employer had a lot of sway at the college so they all ended up with extra time in the summer to pass!)
I spoke to the my employer and they basically said that as they where going on to do machinery assembly jobs in factories, the companies were looking for people more suitable for that and they wanted them train them to do specific roles and to remain with the company a long time and not move on.
Therefore acing the interviews and getting top scores may not be that great. if you are too good they may be worried about retaining you as you will want and be able to do more. Its possible you may be bored as the work may be below your level and not stay.
Some of those roles just want someone with the ability to "go here" and "do that" sometimes its better to have someone of a medium level who will just plod along reliably without thinking about.
I think your farming background may be the strongest route in, rather than competing directly with school leavers for formal apprenticeships.
I’d contact agricultural machinery dealers, commercial vehicle workshops and local HVAC firms directly about trainee or improver roles. They may not be advertised as apprenticeships, but they can still provide supervised experience and a path towards qualifications.
I’d contact agricultural machinery dealers, commercial vehicle workshops and local HVAC firms directly about trainee or improver roles. They may not be advertised as apprenticeships, but they can still provide supervised experience and a path towards qualifications.
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