RE-Training but what to do?

Hudson1984

Hi all, I need some help. I'm an engineer, well at least I used to be but no I feel more like an admin assistant.
I completed a OND in mechanical engineering and also most of a HNC (missed one module) but now I go to work everyday literally hating my life! I miss making things I miss working with my hands and looking at something with that sense of satisfaction.

I want to retrain but it's difficult to see the wood for the trees as to what to do, I want to do something practical but at the same time I have rent and bills to pay so I need to grit my teeth and stay here whilst I train in my spare time.

I'm not looking for a *2 days and your a plasterer" type course but something that the industry actually recognizes. My only problem is in this area I earn good money and it's hard to accept a 5k pay cut or 10k if I went the apprenticeship route, I can't live on that but equally I can't live like this either

please help I'm really at the end of my tether and this country seems to wash it's hands with you at 25 and being 26 makes it worse. I'm in Norwich so evening courses aren't easy to find either I'll have to drive to Lowestoft college for any trade type course. I just don't want to retrain and be stuck in a different office with a different name badge. I'd like some training I can a) use b) possible emigrate later in life, I'm so disheartened with England I think I'd rather just leave.

hcb42

is there any reason you didnt become more qualified?

The grass isnt always greener elsewhere, same old stuff usually!

Hudson1984

you mean a degree? didn't want that huge debt round my neck mainly but also I didn't want to end up in the office I wanted to be more hands on it just kinda happend this way

Emmzi

it didn't "kinda happen this way"

You made education choices

You made housing choices

You made fincancial choices

Let us start with what you are prepared to sacrifice for a better future. There is always sacrifice in the beginning...

Hudson1984

not sure where you live but round here jobs where pretty scarce when i left college. I was made redundant and the only job i could get was in the office so choice yes choice to eat and live it's very easy to say but in reality quite tricky.

Yes there have been some bad choices on my part but also bad luck I'm trying to change that now - the change is what i need help with not a history lesson of where i went wrong....been mulling that over for years hasn't really helped other than to damage my health

Oldernotwiser

I'd make an appointment to see a Nextstep Careers Adviser to discuss your options.

https://nextstep.direct.gov.uk/Pages/Home.aspx

In addition, I'd start researching what skills/trades are in demand in your area and any country you might want to emigrate to.

You need to accept that you're going to have to take a sizeable salary drop for at least a while. After all, you wouldn't expect someone who'd just entered your industry to be on the same money as you are.

Hudson1984

oh haven't seen them before thanks for the tip

yea i've been saving so can allow for a salary drop i just can't live on £60 a week apprentice wage was all i ment i'm happy to earn less whilst training just eager not to make any more bad decisions

saintjammyswine

Hudson1984 wrote: »

oh haven't seen them before thanks for the tip

yea i've been saving so can allow for a salary drop i just can't live on £60 a week apprentice wage was all i ment i'm happy to earn less whilst training just eager not to make any more bad decisions

£60 per week is not the min apprentice wage. min wage for 1st year is £2.50 per hour or £2.60 from October (6th I think).

Average wage for apprentices across all ages and industries is £170 per week, min is at least £75 as it has to be £2.50 per hour for at least 30 hours (can include training time).

Sounds like you have the skills and experience to be able to do well through an apprenticeship. National Apprentice Service (NAS) on www apprenticeships org is the central database of vacancies nationally. Register on there, build your profile and search for vacancies locally.

Also check with your local GFE college (GFE = General Further Education) it will be the vocational rather than academic one!

Hudson1984

possibly worth looking into that route i guess, i've ticked off the majority of what would come up on the academic route so possibly fastrack it for all i know.

I don't expect anything to be quick it will take time just a case of making informed choices and that's what i've been lacking just a case of finding who to ask is what i'm struggling with so thanks

saintjammyswine

As long as you dont have a degree or above you can be an apprentice. There is no upper age limit, the only limiting factor is how much funding the training provider (college) get for your training. You will NOT have to pay anything towards your training but the employer may be asked to make a contribution.

Hudson1984

hmm your definately making astrong case for that route. I've booked in to see my local college...well local enough norwich doesn't have as much going on for trade skills it's more business and office based really so thanks