I am I too old for an apprenticeship?

David1988 · Sep 16, 2017

Hi

I am currently doing Plumbing Level 2 at college and am looking for an apprenticeship, but I have been told it will be nearly impossible to get an apprenticeship as I'm 29.
How difficult will it be ?
Any advice will be greatly appreciated thanks

JCplumb · Sep 16, 2017

Who told you that?
TBH I'd prefer an apprentice your age over a snotty 17 year old any day. You're more likely to stick around and want to succeed. I was 30ish when I did it, I'm mid forties now, I was lucky enough to know a semi retired plumber who helped me with my portfolio of work for the NVQ so wasn't an apprenticeship as such.
Start asking round rather than worrying about it. You won't know 'til you try.

king of pipes · Sep 16, 2017

No mate your not to old just need a bit of luck sure if you keep searching someone will give you a break all the best kop

huddster · Sep 17, 2017

I did my apprenticeship with for a well known (well liked) company at the age of 27, along with a 38 and 42 year old. don't let your age be a barrier. Find something you want to do and do it, you only get one shot in life.

Chuck · Sep 17, 2017

David1988 said:
I have been told it will be nearly impossible to get an apprenticeship as I'm 29.

It's unlawful for employers to discriminate against job applicants on the basis of age:

Age discrimination | Acas advice and guidance | Acas

so take no notice of whoever told you that.

In any case, you'll be streets ahead of most 17 year olds in the job market simply by turning up to interviews on time, speaking in complete sentences and not interrupting the conversation to answer your mobile phone.

moonlight · Sep 18, 2017

The reason people don't want to take any apprentice over 23 is the funding, the government give handouts to the employer below this age but nothing above. I was in my 40's when I started my NVQs, you just need to find the right person who is interested in educating new plumbers. I was very lucky, I also found someone who was retiring, but lucky for me kept working until my NVQs etc were finished. I know own the company. Never give up.

kirkblessed1 · Nov 23, 2017

moonlight said:
The reason people don't want to take any apprentice over 23 is the funding, the government give handouts to the employer below this age but nothing above. I was in my 40's when I started my NVQs, you just need to find the right person who is interested in educating new plumbers. I was very lucky, I also found someone who was retiring, but lucky for me kept working until my NVQs etc were finished. I know own the company. Never give up.

kirkblessed1 · Nov 23, 2017

I'm currently in my 40's and I find it hard to get a chance in London to complete my nvq and when I'm finished I don't stand a chance as my age no one wants to know about it!

Stigster · Nov 23, 2017

Started my apprenticeship at age 27 (10 years ago now). The company I worked for did not like taking on teenagers. There surely must be other companies or individual tradesmen who also think like that.

KingDoey · Nov 24, 2017

Our firm has just taken on new apprentices. Two 17 year olds and a 45 year old...

Last Plumber · Nov 24, 2017

No, Never too old. Crack on!

Ric2013 · Nov 24, 2017

Chuck said:
In any case, you'll be streets ahead of most 17 year olds in the job market simply by turning up to interviews on time, speaking in complete sentences and not interrupting the conversation to answer your mobile phone.

Are you discriminating against 17-year olds now?

That said, I remember being younger than the OP and trying to get an apprenticeship (not as a plumber) with a man who had it in his head that he was thinking of a 16 year-old (I was 25). I explained I understood the funding circumstances and, well, basically was he intending to pay the apprentice anything more than what he was getting from the government?
My outgoings were, then, minimal, and Iexplained that I could have taken a dramatic pay cut to make myself employable as an apprentice as I didn't want to spend all my life being a cleaner. He said, oh yes, I was planning to pay, and I said, well, then please don't write me off, and if you think I'm worth interviewing apart from that then please do call me. He said he wasn't thinking of taking an apprentice until the next year (obviously nonsense - as he was advertising). I never heard back, but then it was fairly obvious just from that conversation that we wouldn't have got along. I'd been debating things with my teachers since the day I started school and so I probably wasn't his type, nor he mine.

Problem with apprenticeships is that a lot of organisations are happy to take on an apprentice for a year and the next year replace them with another 'apprentice' to keep getting the funding and to keep down costs. Apprentice receptionist anyone? Schools have been known to do that with their learning support assistants so while it may be true that it is harder to get an apprenticeship if you're older, I suspect plumbing is a bit different because no one wants an apprentice plumber just for the year anyway.

I never got a formal apprenticeship because I'm too weird and difficult, but I'll get my plumbing business to work out in the end, so don't give up.

justlead1 · Nov 27, 2017

There is not a tablet to take to be a plumber. but the chemistry may be in you somewhere. There are some who mascaraed under the name plumber. Aim to be a good plumber, it will cost you to learn in terms of low wage. But once you have both practical and knowledge of subject, thing will get better.
To fore fill your dreams, drive is the biggest obstacle, find it and do it.
Good Luck

spanner · Nov 27, 2017

David1988 said:
Hi

I am currently doing Plumbing Level 2 at college and am looking for an apprenticeship, but I have been told it will be nearly impossible to get an apprenticeship as I'm 29.
How difficult will it be ?
Any advice will be greatly appreciated thanks

Rubbish you can do an apprenticeship at 50
It is mostly a matter of mind mate if it' what you like to do is plumbing and learning "just do It" it' never too late.
Enjoy

I am I too old for an apprenticeship?

David1988

JCplumb

king of pipes

huddster

Chuck

moonlight

Plumbers Arms member

kirkblessed1

kirkblessed1

Stigster

KingDoey

Plumbers Arms member

Last Plumber

Ric2013

Plumbers Arms member

justlead1

Plumbers Arms member

spanner

Plumbers Arms member

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