To be, or not to be....

muddyl

Ok, who does/has worked in garages?
I'm at a point in my life where I want to change what im doing, start doing something im actually interested in. So im thinking about mechanics.
Problem is, im 30, so the question is; are there mature part-time courses out there in this that actually get you recognised quals that help to get jobs (as opposed to the useless quals that are worthless)? Or do places take people on as something like a labourer etc with the intent of training up?

I'm looking for peoples opinion's on this. I dont really know where to start, just know im sick of my job that has no room for future progression.
Thanks, mark

trillion

I'm not sure if I can be much help, but in Year 10 and 11 of school. my son spent one day a week at a local Skills Centre (which was administered by the various sixth form providers in our area) working for a IMIAL Level 1 Certificate in Motor Vehicle Maintenance and Repair.
The following year he continued to Level 2, which included a one day a week placement in a local garage.

Though the course was predominantly run for school age students, the centre also took mature students, and ran evening classes (at a cost).

Sadly, it didn't lead to the apprenticeship he'd hoped for but he walked straight into a job on the parts desk at Halfords and he's got a nice little sideline in repairing and servicing cars for family and friends and is still looking for a garage which is actually taking people on in these difficult times.

As an aside, I hear the Skills Centre is being closed down at the end of next academic year because of education cuts.

Good Luck, it'd be great if you could do something you enjoy to earn a living!

scheming_gypsy

One of my mates has gone down the same route and he's just turned 31.
He's doing one evening a week at college doing mechanics and bodywork and then deciding which route he wants to go down for the second year. Sometime next year he's going to need to do some hands on work experience, think he has to do 16 hours a week as part of the course; so he's having to work part time so he can fit the hours in.

muddyl

Cheers for the replies.
I'm going to look into this a bit more.
Starting with adult apprenticeship and funding as I have a family to feed so cant drop income too much.

Oldernotwiser

muddyl wrote: »

Cheers for the replies.
I'm going to look into this a bit more.
Starting with adult apprenticeship and funding as I have a family to feed so cant drop income too much.

Wages on an apprenticeship will be really low; you'd be much better looking at evening courses at your local college to enable you to carry on in your current job.

I don't mean to be pessimistic but you need to be prepared that there's no guarantee of a job after you finish training.

muddyl

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Wages on an apprenticeship will be really low; you'd be much better looking at evening courses at your local college to enable you to carry on in your current job.

I don't mean to be pessimistic but you need to be prepared that there's no guarantee of a job after you finish training.

Im not sure how much money would drop.
I believe that as an adult apprentice, they have to pay you at least the equivalent of minimum wage, I dont get much more now. It just depends if it affects things like tax credits etc.

And yeah, no guarantee of a job. I spent 1 year doing an IT evening course after losing my job in the readsion, as it was a step up to the next course, only for the college to pull the next course due to funding, wasted a year.

But sometimes I think you just have to take a leap of faith.