Apprenticeships for 20 year old's +.

[Irezumi aka Reuben]

I have been looking into apprenticeships after working a succession of repetitive mundane jobs and realising I wish to do something else. It took me until 20 to realise this, so I dawdled a bit, not a problem you'd imagine.

Seem's there is a large problem. Connexions can't help as I am over 19, Learndirect have told me most apprenticeships are for those between 16 and 19, just get a job. If so why do the government advertise them as available to 16 to 24 year olds? Following links for websites merely takes me from a government site to a 3rd party one, REMIT etc, which then in turn leads me back to the original government one. Phoning these people results in "packs" and "application forms" being sent out and being told to check out said websites.

If anyone can offer ANY information as to where I can go to speak to a person regarding engineering and design based apprenticeships, for a 20 year old, I would be very grateful.
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Pictorgraphicalfantastical

[NC30UK]

Organisations need to look like their helping you, in reality they won't do a damn thing for you, just tie you in knots.

Contact companies directly, and spend alot of time preparing and selling yourself. ringing up local colleges and asking the teachers about aprentecips is another good idea as most will require you to go to college a day a week or something so the teachers might know of companies that take alot of people on.

The job center is allright, though opertunities come up rarely

[Irezumi aka Reuben]

Yes, going through the process for BMW's trainee scheme now. Will possibly be adding a letter explaining my situation/reason's for joining later. The lady I spoke to on the phone said their age limit may change (beleive it's 18 or 19) due to concern's over age discrimination.
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Pictorgraphicalfantastical

[msgander]

Contact companies directly and do a professional CV, half the time you may get lucky. The days of good old apprenticeships are few and far between.

Dont give up, show persistence and you may get
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Always believe that your guardian angel flies a bit faster than you...............

[Misc]

Go college, there you can do an acess course & whilst you do the practical side they also help you stuff like cvs, then when you finally get the City & Guilds certificate most companys are likely to take you on, Some let you do 5 days of work & 1 day college etc.

[Irezumi aka Reuben]

Doing an access course would be a waste of mine and their time, although no doubt will be required.

I have 11 GCSE's A-C and a C grade in Design Tech. My CV is also quite adequate, I updated it only today re-arranging the layout to improve it.

I really need to be in work for various reasons, that's why an apprenticeship appeals. Getting paid a reasonable wage whilst learning, I'm also not very academically minded, being much better at practical things.

The reason I have not contacted my local college's (Merton would probably be the nearest and most relevant) is that I am after specific courses to do with engineering apprenticeships. BMW offer their own in house one. Most college's offer apprenticeships to become mechanics or full time courses for engineering.
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Pictorgraphicalfantastical

[ace2004k]

reuben i been in same situation as you!

im 20, 21 in april and have only really done groundworks for building companies which dont have much career development opportunities as u know. towards the end of last year i decided i liked the construction industry so i tried my luck applying for a trainee QS position with alfred mcalpine and i got an interview and eventually got the job started early january. ok so its a pay drop from working on the tools but u have to take a step backwards to go forwards!

so my advice would be to select a job youd like to progress further into and go direct to companys who r looking for trainee's or juniors in a paticular field

good luck

[Nath]

I'm in the same boat. Turn 20 next month, and am realising I've left it too late It's funny how when you're 16 it seems like you've got the world at your feet and a whole lifetime to waste, but in no time at all you've passed up all your opportunites and are left with no option to work your way up from the bottom...

I am going into the armed forces recruitment center this week to talk to a careers advisor and see if the army can offer anything. Perhaps to train as a fitter. I would rather not join the army, but if it's my only option then I will bite the bullet. I value my freedom and my long hair (I know that may sound daft), but I'd value a fat salary and a profession even more.
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Hard livin', hard luck.

[Noggin]

www.britishgasacademy.co.uk

They take apprentices up to the age of 23.

I'm training with them at the moment, 12,500 for the first year, 25k flat when full engineer plus plenty of overtime available (as service engineer)

You get van, tools, phone, loads of bits and pieces.

Full training, NVQ3, city and guilds, unvented hot water qualification, fully sorted really, with opportunities for further training (lpg etc.)

I'm enjoying it, I got a brand new van (12 miles on the clock).




Craig G(Noggin)
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Current bike: kawasaki zx12r 2002
Track bike: yamaha r6 1998
Old Bike: honda NSR 125 1998

[mchaggis]

[0ni]

If you've got the grades then why not a commercial traineeship in big business/public practice?

If you've not got the grades then take your pick from Army/Navy/Airforce (mud/bunk/hotel).
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Its a lovely day, just wait until some bastard spoils it.

[WildGoose]

[Nath]

[Irezumi aka Reuben]