Is there any point applying for "apprenticeship" programmes when you're over 50?

lakes17

Putting aside the lip service to non-discrimination legislation, is it realistic to think those of fifty and over would have any chance at all?
Has anyone of such an age on here, or anyone you know, secured a position on an apprenticeship scheme/job with any company?

saintjammyswine

The short answer is yes, many people over 50 on apprenticeship programmes.
The longer answer is well, sort of.

The reason being that apprenticeships for people who are older are often used as a way of getting a qualification that there is no funding for otherwise. For example, someone about 40. got some GCSEs (or O Levels) but then time served rather than qualified. They may have 20 years experience on their CV but no qualifications to show they have achieved a particular standard within an industry.

There may not be funding available for a Level 2 course that will prove their competence against industry set standards. Rather than paying for the course outright, they could be then employed as an apprentice (keeping their normal conditions) to get the training funded or at least part funded.

Not very often that someone is employed as an apprentice from the outset I'm afraid though although it certainly does happen.

lakes17

Thanks for the valuable insight saintjammyswine. I thought that would be the case. I was made redundant 12 months ago aged 55 and having worked for the same Company (Local Government) for 25 years. I left School in 1974 with no formal qualifications. I was hoping that somewhere I would be able to earn a small wage (the low Apprentice wage wouldn't bother me as in my mind I would be getting a qualification which I am lacking) Whilst I appreciate that youngsters need all the help they can get i.e. Apprentice scheme the Government should also be addressing the problem at the other end of the spectrum i.e. over 55's. This in my opinion is now needed more than ever as not only are the over 55's at greater risk of losing their job through redundancy the age that you can now claim your State Pension has in my case (and many others) risen from 60 to 66

saintjammyswine

lakes17 wrote: »

Thanks for the valuable insight saintjammyswine. I thought that would be the case. I was made redundant 12 months ago aged 55 and having worked for the same Company (Local Government) for 25 years. I left School in 1974 with no formal qualifications. I was hoping that somewhere I would be able to earn a small wage (the low Apprentice wage wouldn't bother me as in my mind I would be getting a qualification which I am lacking) Whilst I appreciate that youngsters need all the help they can get i.e. Apprentice scheme the Government should also be addressing the problem at the other end of the spectrum i.e. over 55's. This in my opinion is now needed more than ever as not only are the over 55's at greater risk of losing their job through redundancy the age that you can now claim your State Pension has in my case (and many others) risen from 60 to 66

There may be a seperate pot of funding available if you want/need to retrain then. ESF Skills Support for Redundancy funding is available through many (not all) FE Colleges and is there to pay for retraining to get back into work. I am not sure of the timescales following redundancy, whether a year is too long but it is meant for people who are at risk of/going through/have been through redundancy.