To Late?

[Mc_Plum]

Hi, one thing I regret in life is not doing a trade when I left school. I'm now 28(29 in July) and would love to start one now, and plumbing is the one that interests me. But thinking I may be to late to start one now as I'd imagine most people would only want give younger people an apprentice

Are there ever anybody looking for more mature apprentices? And would i have to pay for it myself or would the government do that like younger apprentices? I couldn't afford to myself so if that was the case then it would be an non starter.

Sorry if posted in the wrong section.
Thanks.

 

[Twizz]

I became a plumber at 40 was paid for buy local housing association and EU funding, spent a year at collage 1/2 day class work 1/2 day on the tools.never to late,was the oldest there, but was always being asked by the young ones for help on the project's had live skills and common sense, and I'm Dyslexia

 

[Stokesy11]

I'm 28, 29 in October and now applying for apprenticeships myself.

It's never too late but it is harder to get now as I believe if your aged 18-24 then your course is either paid for or receives a big contribution from the government.

I was told the bigger firms are the ones to approach for someone of our age as they often like maturer people and if you can drive it's a bonus plus they have the money to cover your training.

With the individual guys I have offered to cover my training costs either upfront if needs be or of possible taken out of my wage.

Also found out that your only on a apprentice wage for the first 12 months if your over 24 then it goes up to minimum wage for the duration of your training after that.

Good luck though mate. I would say you can definitely do it you just need to contact everyone, show your keen and if you can find a way of contributing towards your training it should put you on more equal footing with the youngsters.

 

[wetshoes]

First off good luck with the searching. Having done very much the same after leaving school. I did the course at weekends years later but have struggled to get in to the industry. Finally managed to but more by luck than anything else.

I don't know what your current work situation etc is but I'd say go for it as either way you have a trade though can be disheartening not getting acknowledged when you apply for stuff. I think the key is to get out and network as much as possible, get down to plumbers merchants and anywhere else you can think of too and get pally with as many people as you can.

Good luck.

 

[jtsplumbing]

Well done for wanting to learn a trade ! But why plumbing ? for some reason everyone wants to be a plumber ! WHY ?? need to step back and look at other trades, Plumbing is by no means a glamour trade, heavy lifting, working in dirt, cold, damp, expect at the end to finish with back & knee problems, the days of earning big money have long gone, at best you'll get by, rates are very low due to the amount of available plumbers, the market is over run, Have you looked into what a plumber does ? and what is involved, But do look into other options / Trades Best of luck with whatever you choose.

 

[lame plumber]

probably coz they have looked at your avatar jts

 

[jam1979]

I became an apprentice at 35 I managed to get on with a local firm after phone calls emails and more stick to it keep knocking on doors and persistence pays off

 

[gassafe]

The dude with the Range Rover can't keep posting how its all minimum wage & those days are long gone

Change it to a ford escort if you wanna sing that tune... I know we all wanna make out its doom & gloom to keep a plumber shortage & are prices High but you gotta make it convincing

 

[gassafe]

What is it you do at the moment mc_plum?

 

[nysk2008]

brick laying and tiling seem to be paying well at the mo, shame i cant do either