Apprenticeships for over 24s?

Top_Banana_2

I've seen a few apprenticeships advertised of late, and they interest me greatly.

Thing is, I'm 27. I know that they are aimed at 16-24 year olds, and that there are such things as adult apprenticeships.

The ones that I have seen have not stated that applicants must be 16-24. Is it worth applying to these, or am I wasting my time?

purpleducky

I think you've got to approach it differently; don't apply for apprenticeships as that's a scheme solely for under 24's. Instead market yourself as a keen career-changer. Contact companies in the field you'd like to work for and see if they'll take you on with a low wage and train you up. You should be a more appealing prospect at 27 as they won't have to 'babysit' you and you're obviously motivated to get into your chosen career.

ecosse306

Where abouts are you based? I manage the apprenticeship programme in Scotland, but I know the rules are different in Scotland and England.

In Scotland, anyone can do an apprenticeship, but only certain sectors/ages will be funded. We have a lot of 'older' apprentices on the books (by older, I mean over 20!).

I go out and about to companies to speak to them about apprenticeships, and many tell me that they would rather have someone a bit older rather than a 16 year old straight out of school as they will be more mature and the company will get more out of them.

You have nothing to lose by applying! Many of the apprentices I deal with have got their jobs by sending speculative letters and CV's to companies rather than waiting for a vacancy to be advertised.

shewhoguards

26 year old apprentice here! Started at 25.

The government supported scheme, I believe, funds only younger folk. However, unless the advert specifically says an age, don't let that put you off. The government funding only covers the college stuff. I know my (large, multinational) company at least made the call that they were spending so much on other training, hotels, pay etc that the college funding was pretty much a drop in the water and they didn't care.