What trade/niche to retrain in

theoretica

What shape of working day are you looking for?  9-5 or 2am call outs?  A stable salary or self employed?

Indigo_and_Violet

coffeehound said:
Renewable energy is of course a growth sector.  There's going to be a ramp-up in demand for people to specify and fit the newfangled technologies like heat pumps, solar, insulation, draught-proofing, and many other aspects.  

Just anecdotal but I would advise caution becoming too specialised in the renewables sector. At one point, three members of my extended family were involved (two in solar, which was being touted as a big growth sector at the time) then the government changed the incentives and both solar people got made redundant. They both struggled for a while (big influx of well-qualified people looking for jobs) but the one with the more general electrical engineering skills found work within about 6 months. The more specialised solar fitter had to totally retrain. 
Obviously a risk in any sector, but it was an incredibly quick turnaround from booming to redundant on the basis of a single gov policy change.

BoBoDobie

Tammykitty said:

What about taking this one stage further and actually open a shop (Not the best to it now though)
Its never too lake to change career - consider what is out there - even without retraining, what about factory work or a non skilled building site work?
or if retraining - consider taking a course in something you are interested in while still in your own job
Although do think about it logically if going into manual work - your own job you will be able to do when older, manual work will be more difficult..

Thank you.  I have had shops on ebay before.  One was a great sideline for a couple of years until competitors undercut you etc and I eventually wound it down.  The things I sell now are great but its a hobby business in a niche area so I don't get much repeat custom.

Its the retraining that really appeals but just in what I don't know!

Indigo_and_Violet

BoBoDobie said:

Its the retraining that really appeals but just in what I don't know!

It sounds like your brain is keen for some learning! Do you work for a big organisation in the public sector? If so, there might be quite a lot of organisational learning available (for free) through your current work. They might also be able to organise job shadowing for you to see what other roles are like. Do you think it would be worth booking a conversation with HR?
Otherwise, you won't get the practical element, but it might also be worth looking at free courses on platforms like FutureLearn or EdX related to sectors you're interested in to see if you enjoy them. These will also give you the chance to chat to other learners who could give you some insight into their sector. 

BoBoDobie

Indigo_and_Violet said:

Are there any things you do like about your current job? What sort of salary are you targeting? Beyond wanting to work with your hands, do you have any thing else you're looking for in your new career? Would you be happy to work outside in all weathers? What is it about joinery/carpentry that you don't like the sound of? What conditions would you be willing to accept to re-train (e.g. would you accept having to do a degree first? An apprenticeship on a low wage?). Would you be willing to relocate? If not, a good start would be to consider what the labour market is like near you - are there any big employers and if so what professions are they employing? 

Within my family I've got people working as engineers for OpenReach (plenty of overtime available to bump up basic wage, good training but outside in all weathers) managing road building sites (might not be ideal at 40 as they started at the bottom as a labourer and worked up), at hydroelectric plants (a good high-skill apprenticeship but quite tied to the location), managing grounds (low pay for a long time until recognised as a high-skill employee, now better pay but very early starts and again, location dependent) plus in public services (ambulance now needs a degree which is hard to get on to but lots of overtime available once employed, police still accepting non-degree but not sure on age limit). My understanding (and its not my field so I am happy to be told I'm wrong) is that things like digger drivers/forklift operators do get paid well but often follow a similar career to my uncle on the roads - employers will pay for training but only after you've paid your dues with a stint at the bottom of the ladder with some hard physical graft. This might not be the case if you're willing to pay for your own training. 

It seems like you have given it a lot of thought and have some quite clear ideas about what does and doesn't work for you which is a great place to start. Once you get some other ideas of jobs then there's loads of folk on these boards that I'm sure can give you the inside details on what is and isn't so great about different roles. 

Thank you!  Yes I don't mind my current job at all.  Its public sector, flexi time, good holidays, lovely people.  I just can't imagine I've got to do it for the next 25 years.  And like I say its the lack of money which means lack of choices about my quality of life.    

Happy to work outside, I used to run a pet sitting/dog walking business so that's no problem (but I don't want to do this again or work with animals again).  I'd be happy to be an apprentice on a lower wage if it was leading to something better long term.  I can't relocate for various reasons.  I'm not bothered about going down the degree route, I've not even got A levels.  
Carpenter looks like heavy graft and from what I'd researched wasn't a great payer.  
I'd love to work in the film/tv industry on sets (I love watching stuff and thinking someone has had to dress the room etc to be period appropriate) but again there's nothing like that round me (Derbyshire) I imagine its highly competitive and I have to be realistic about things.

BoBoDobie

theoretica said:

What shape of working day are you looking for?  9-5 or 2am call outs?  A stable salary or self employed?

I think whatever I did I'd want to work for someone else at least for a while, maybe self employed down the line it'd be nice to have the option.   Daytime preferably would fit better around family life.

BoBoDobie

Indigo_and_Violet said:

coffeehound said:
Renewable energy is of course a growth sector.  There's going to be a ramp-up in demand for people to specify and fit the newfangled technologies like heat pumps, solar, insulation, draught-proofing, and many other aspects.  

Just anecdotal but I would advise caution becoming too specialised in the renewables sector. At one point, three members of my extended family were involved (two in solar, which was being touted as a big growth sector at the time) then the government changed the incentives and both solar people got made redundant. They both struggled for a while (big influx of well-qualified people looking for jobs) but the one with the more general electrical engineering skills found work within about 6 months. The more specialised solar fitter had to totally retrain. 
Obviously a risk in any sector, but it was an incredibly quick turnaround from booming to redundant on the basis of a single gov policy change.

Yes my brother fell foul of this.  He had a company installing solar panels for a few years then when they changed the rules business dried up.  Luckily as an electrician he could do other stuff.

BoBoDobie

Indigo_and_Violet said:

BoBoDobie said:

Its the retraining that really appeals but just in what I don't know!

It sounds like your brain is keen for some learning! Do you work for a big organisation in the public sector? If so, there might be quite a lot of organisational learning available (for free) through your current work. They might also be able to organise job shadowing for you to see what other roles are like. Do you think it would be worth booking a conversation with HR?
Otherwise, you won't get the practical element, but it might also be worth looking at free courses on platforms like FutureLearn or EdX related to sectors you're interested in to see if you enjoy them. These will also give you the chance to chat to other learners who could give you some insight into their sector. 

I work for a local council.  They have offered training but of course its all job specific so admin based.  I've only been there a few months after a sideways move from another council where I did a similar thing.  Just personal things at home etc have made me think I need to rethink what I do/what I earn. 
Thank you I'll check out those names.

AskAsk

Waunakee said:

AskAsk said:

wrong side of 40, i am assuming late 40s.  in my opinion, you are a little bit too long in the tooth to be considering a career change at this stage of your life and if you are, it would only be possible if it was related to your existing career, where your existing skills are useful for the new career.

 What an insulting response! 
 I opted for a total career change at 41,which I suppose could be considered the wrong side of 40 but certainly not long in the tooth!
New career (supply chain management) is totally unrelated to my old one (nuclear medicine) and was the best move I have ever made.
Happier,very well paid and no longer time poor!

it may come across as insulting but unfortunately a change of career this late is very difficult if you want to start completely afresh, which the OP wants to do, and train into a trade.  training into a trade, especially one that is physically challenging, like the manual trades that the OP mentioned, will not be easy to do for someon in their 40s.  it is not impossible as anything is possible if you really put your mind to it and are determined enough, but it is going to be very difficult.

the OP will not only have to train into something new, he would also have to compete with others.

it may have been easy for you to change career, but this is not the norm.  i am therefore advising the OP that it will be an uphill struggle, what he is looking to do, and suggesting better ways for him to change career, where he doesn't start completely fresh, but use the skills he already has.  this will be a more achieveable way forward than starting completely new for the OP in my opinion.

Indigo_and_Violet

BoBoDobie said:

I'd love to work in the film/tv industry on sets (I love watching stuff and thinking someone has had to dress the room etc to be period appropriate) but again there's nothing like that round me (Derbyshire) I imagine its highly competitive and I have to be realistic about things.

Have you thought about something in events? Not this year, but likely to pick up once restrictions eased. Would use your admin skills but also has a more varied rhythm in terms of building up to something big and includes creative stuff like graphic design and practical work like dressing rooms during the events themselves. You could also get experience in your current post as council events teams are often looking for volunteers for things like festivals/melas/pride or other big events. As an events assistant you're probably still looking at 20k, then a bit more for an officer (like this post: https://uk.indeed.com/viewjobjk=c0a05cb73c3a25c5&tk=1eutgdrnastui800&from=serp&vjs=3) then £30-40 as a manager.