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

 

[jtsplumbing]

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

Mr gassafe, not a case of its all minimum rates, a lot depends on your location and amount of available plumbers in that area, I'm about 10 miles or so from Plymouth with over 600 or more plumbers covering that area, where a lot of people living in this location are on minimum wage, and this reflects in what you can charge, even guys working on new build are not on very good prices, it could be that you live in a more affluent area where the earnings are a lot higher, I know the rates are much better in other areas, I lived near Ascot for 20 years and when I moved back to the south west my income dropped by at least 50% !
I worked through the 70's /80's when the gas conversions were going on and jobs were plentiful , walk out of one job into another, 1 plumber with a option of 10 or more jobs, now it's more like 10 plumbers chasing 1 job, and that will dictate the rates, As for your comments on the vehicle I now drive ! yes it' a Range Rover (Not New) but after working in this trade for 40years I think I have earned the right to what I drive, Maybe when you have been plumbing for 40 years you may choose to have a flash sports car even a Bentley who knows ?
Making out it's all doom & gloom, not really better to tell these guys how it is a the present time with work prospects B4 they jump in and spend thousands of pounds on fast track courses, what I advised the OP was to look at other trades B4 he commits to Plumbing, he could find he would be better suited to some other trade, seen loads of guys over the years come and go because it's not the job they thought it was going to be.

 

[gassafe]

Mr gassafe, not a case of its all minimum rates, a lot depends on your location and amount of available plumbers in that area, I'm about 10 miles or so from Plymouth with over 600 or more plumbers covering that area, where a lot of people living in this location are on minimum wage, and this reflects in what you can charge, even guys working on new build are not on very good prices, it could be that you live in a more affluent area where the earnings are a lot higher, I know the rates are much better in other areas, I lived near Ascot for 20 years and when I moved back to the south west my income dropped by at least 50% !
I worked through the 70's /80's when the gas conversions were going on and jobs were plentiful , walk out of one job into another, 1 plumber with a option of 10 or more jobs, now it's more like 10 plumbers chasing 1 job, and that will dictate the rates, As for your comments on the vehicle I now drive ! yes it' a Range Rover (Not New) but after working in this trade for 40years I think I have earned the right to what I drive, Maybe when you have been plumbing for 40 years you may choose to have a flash sports car even a Bentley who knows ?
Making out it's all doom & gloom, not really better to tell these guys how it is a the present time with work prospects B4 they jump in and spend thousands of pounds on fast track courses, what I advised the OP was to look at other trades B4 he commits to Plumbing, he could find he would be better suited to some other trade, seen loads of guys over the years come and go because it's not the job they thought it was going to be.

My comment was tongue in cheek, as they have been before when i comment on your Range

Fully agree on the state of the plumbing world, iv been self employed 5 years & I have never noticed any such thing as a plumber shortage which these courses are still singing about to get the money off these guys!

P.s. get yourself down the range rover dealership & upgrade to the later model as your making the forum look out dated

 

[jtsplumbing]

My comment was tongue in cheek, as they have been before when i comment on your Range

Fully agree on the state of the plumbing world, iv been self employed 5 years & I have never noticed any such thing as a plumber shortage which these courses are still singing about to get the money off these guys!

P.s. get yourself down the range rover dealership & upgrade to the later model as your making the forum look out dated

Not a bad idea ! but only work part time now, maybe as your doing so well you would like to make a donation for my next purchase !!

 

[gassafe]

Not a bad idea ! but only work part time now, maybe as your doing so well you would like to make a donation for my next purchase !!

Haha, I wish I was... Probably quieter now than I have ever been

 

[Stanios]

I did a career change at 22 Im now 25 and will be gas safe next year. Financially it set me back at least 20k already, closer to 30 as I was earning double/tripple in my office job.. But you only have one life and I think you might as well do a job you actually enjoy. You will know within a week of work if plumbing is for you. Then if you are crazy enough to love it and give up alot of money, time and hygiene you will have a job that pays and job that you love.

 

[firemant]

. Then if you are crazy enough to love it and give up alot of money, time and hygiene you will have a job that pays and job that you love.

OP: Brickies ARE apparently earning better rates, but They don't get paid much in the rain or freezing cold.

But, seriously, before paying £££££thousands to learn the trade, ask the course providers for references from guys who have actually paid and been through THEIR course.
Look at job adverts and see the rates being offered.

 

[Steve ski]

I agree with jts plumbing purely by his location, I used to live near Tavi myself and their is far too many plumbers around west devon I used to find it tough to get decent rates and make it pay. I now live in west cornwall and keep busy generally. the good thing here is I look after many propertys owned by londoners etc, makes me laugh when I tell them how much I want for a job they think I'm cheap compared to their local prices !!

 

[Gary Lee]

IM 39. .. just finished my C&G level 2, starting the Level 3 next week, then I'm going to try and find a firm to take me on so i can do the NVQ'S aswell (All paid for myself) ... I don't think age should be a factor.Well, i hope not anyway. Ive been a painter for 15 years and totally fed up of it. Really enjoy plumbing so far. Good luck mate

 

[leek]

Just had this conversation on another thread, over the years I have had a fair few apprentices and improvers landed on me and the older ones were normally better. Not so much in the standard of work as that can be taught, but in general outlook and work ethics.

Turning up at work regularly and on time, not missing college on a whim, not moody when given the menial/grubby jobs and just generally more willing. Perhaps it because they trained later in life so were hungrier to achieve. Some of the youngsters I have had were just awful, just wanted to earn the money without putting in the ground work and effort.

So to answer your question don't think that age should be an issue at all, if you can afford to re train.

IM 39. .. just finished my C&G level 2, starting the Level 3 next week, then I'm going to try and find a firm to take me on so i can do the NVQ'S aswell (All paid for myself) ... I don't think age should be a factor.Well, i hope not anyway. Ive been a painter for 15 years and totally fed up of it. Really enjoy plumbing so far. Good luck mate