I've been lurking for a while so thought i'd say hello and ask my first question!
I'm due to retire in 18 months, i'm currently 47 and would like to retrain as a plumber..
I know that the career change thing and fast track 6 week course has been done to death so apologies. I'm fortunate that whatever happens when i do retire i'll have the financial cushion of a pension, if nothing else this'll give me options and a cushion financially until i need to bring in a wage again,
Having read numerous threads i fully appreciate the views of time served tradesmen regarding quick courses but as a very "mature" learner i can't see that i have very many options open to me if i want to learn. I've researched to death college courses, there's nothing local to me (Edinburgh) that isn't either a pre -apprenticeship course or a full blown SVQ apprenticeship which would require me to have a job already and be supported by an employer. I may be wrong but i can't see someone wanting to take on a new start at my age. Both of these routes are full time courses, there's nowt part time or evening based. For those based in Scotland i've looked as far north as Perth and as West as Glasgow. If a "proper" college isn't an option then that only leaves the short course type.
So, if i want to learn in the hope of having enough knowledge to safely tackle small jobs for myself, friends and family or gain some form of employment in the industry how do i go about it?
Spend the best part of 3 grand on a level 2 6035 tech certificate with a course provider in the full knowledge that i'll probably not actually learn that much either technically or practically, accepting that employers won't be interested in it at all?
Sit tight for 18 months until i do retire and then attend a pre apprenticeship course at a local college. The course runs for 36 weeks, 3 days a week. The hope would be to progress to some form of employment after this or in an ideal world find someone willing to put me through a full apprenticeship. I'm not really sure skills wise what this would actually give me or if it would assist with trying to gain further training / employment.
Find someone local ish to me who'll take pity and allow me to either labour for nowt or tag along when it suits them in the hope of learning on the job as i go
Find someone local ish to me who in exchange for cash their way would be prepared to take me under their wing and give me their time and knowledge(i'd rather do this than pay for a short course as long as i'm actually learning)
As it stands these are my options, anyone got any words of wisdom or advice?
Thanks in advance.
I'm due to retire in 18 months, i'm currently 47 and would like to retrain as a plumber..
I know that the career change thing and fast track 6 week course has been done to death so apologies. I'm fortunate that whatever happens when i do retire i'll have the financial cushion of a pension, if nothing else this'll give me options and a cushion financially until i need to bring in a wage again,
Having read numerous threads i fully appreciate the views of time served tradesmen regarding quick courses but as a very "mature" learner i can't see that i have very many options open to me if i want to learn. I've researched to death college courses, there's nothing local to me (Edinburgh) that isn't either a pre -apprenticeship course or a full blown SVQ apprenticeship which would require me to have a job already and be supported by an employer. I may be wrong but i can't see someone wanting to take on a new start at my age. Both of these routes are full time courses, there's nowt part time or evening based. For those based in Scotland i've looked as far north as Perth and as West as Glasgow. If a "proper" college isn't an option then that only leaves the short course type.
So, if i want to learn in the hope of having enough knowledge to safely tackle small jobs for myself, friends and family or gain some form of employment in the industry how do i go about it?
Spend the best part of 3 grand on a level 2 6035 tech certificate with a course provider in the full knowledge that i'll probably not actually learn that much either technically or practically, accepting that employers won't be interested in it at all?
Sit tight for 18 months until i do retire and then attend a pre apprenticeship course at a local college. The course runs for 36 weeks, 3 days a week. The hope would be to progress to some form of employment after this or in an ideal world find someone willing to put me through a full apprenticeship. I'm not really sure skills wise what this would actually give me or if it would assist with trying to gain further training / employment.
Find someone local ish to me who'll take pity and allow me to either labour for nowt or tag along when it suits them in the hope of learning on the job as i go
Find someone local ish to me who in exchange for cash their way would be prepared to take me under their wing and give me their time and knowledge(i'd rather do this than pay for a short course as long as i'm actually learning)
As it stands these are my options, anyone got any words of wisdom or advice?
Thanks in advance.