Self-employed Mechanic or Plumber- Realistic?

saintjammyswine

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Don't forget that you won't be able to complete your full NVQ qualification without the site experience you need for this. It can be very hard to arrange this without connections in the industry, even if you're prepared to do it unpaid.

Most colleges will have the facilities to be able to show evidence of competency in the qualification. For example training workshops for mechanic and similar for plumbing. Site experience is not always required for an NVQ.

saintjammyswine

Top_Banana wrote: »

Thanks for the replies.

I can't do an apprenticeship as I'm 28. I've looked for ages for an adult one, but there is none available- literally none.

The college courses are not shortemed versions- they are 2 years +.

No upper age limit for an apprenticeship. Keep looking, try the college and also National Apprenticeship Service where you can register, search for & apply for vacancies.
With the mechanic option, have you considered heavy vehicle? There is more demand for these within apprenticeships.

Dawn3

You can't have a funded Apprenticeship if you have a degree despite the there being a shortage of apprenticeships being filled. Even if you are only 22, unemployed, can't find work in your degree specialty or choose to take on training to help find any kind of work, are offered employment etc there is no funding if you are qualified at degree level.
Is this discrimination?

saintjammyswine

Dawn3 wrote: »

You can't have a funded Apprenticeship if you have a degree despite the there being a shortage of apprenticeships being filled. Even if you are only 22, unemployed, can't find work in your degree specialty or choose to take on training to help find any kind of work, are offered employment etc there is no funding if you are qualified at degree level.
Is this discrimination?

Not discrimination as the funding has to be targeted to people gaining the skills for work. It would be good if we could use the funding to help everyone but there is only a finite amount and so it has to be focussed on those for whom it will have the greatest effect.

Notmyrealname

Top_Banana wrote: »

Taking the example of the vehicke repair course: How realistic is it to expect to complete the course and then set up work straightaway as a mobile mechanic?

Absolutely completely unrealistic. Lets put it this way - a full apprenticeship and the full City & Guilds course is 3 years. These courses teach you the basics but nothing more.

You'd be OK doing something like brakes, suspension, driveshafts and other basic stuff such as servicing but the first time you have to work on an engine or the injection or engine management you'll fully understand how unprepared you are.

Dawn3

One might think that and perhaps the rules were written before 20% of young people became unemployed.
Would be interested in Mr Vince Cable's view on this. We have a shortage in the uptake of apprenticeships, graduates unemployed who are more than willing to take up training in other areas and employers who are willing to help if funding is available ... but it is not for graduates.

saintjammyswine

Dawn3 wrote: »

One might think that and perhaps the rules were written before 20% of young people became unemployed.
Would be interested in Mr Vince Cable's view on this. We have a shortage in the uptake of apprenticeships, graduates unemployed who are more than willing to take up training in other areas and employers who are willing to help if funding is available ... but it is not for graduates.

The problem is that there is not one ringfenced pot of money for apprenticeships any more. Colleges and other providers are funded with the Single Adult Skills budget which gives them flexibility to fund as local demand dictates within the funding rules. Most colleges will easily use up this budget within the existing rules so to have another group of people that need funding will put extra strain on an already stretched budget.

DCFC79

saintjammyswine wrote: »

No upper age limit for an apprenticeship. Keep looking, try the college and also National Apprenticeship Service where you can register, search for & apply for vacancies.
With the mechanic option, have you considered heavy vehicle? There is more demand for these within apprenticeships.

The original thread is old and i reckon Top Banana is now sorted 1 way or other.

saintjammyswine

I know but the info I put there still stands for the other people reading the thread, as it was bumped by someone.