Apprenticeships at 30

DanS1

Was made redundant a couple of months back from my retail job and having next to no luck in securing a new job. I don't really want to go back to retail, and am looking at office and admin jobs which is something I've wanted to move into for a while. Went for an interview for a junior position yesterday which I'm still hearing to back from but don't hold out much hope. Am edging towards starting an apprenticeship in business admin but worried with me being nearly 30 with rent to pay that if I get into one I might be treated like a kid. I'm not so much worried about the pay as long as the apprenticeship is full time it will be enough to pay my rent. Just wondering if a £4.40 apprenticeship is viable at my age. If anything I just want the experience which will help me in a career I feel I would be well suited to.

[Deleted User]

Yes it certainly is possible, you can get 'adult' apprenticeships.
In the recent job hunt round, at nearly 40 myself, there was an apprenticeship offered at a high street opticians, open to older candidates. 
Pants money but training was more guaranteed I faired with a solid qualification at the end.  
Sadly the real bar and one thing I hoped maybe overlooked was I didn't really have the GCSE marks to progress.  They honestly emailed asking to see certificate proofs from 1998!.
Recently getting a phone sales job, I've been thinking I could just as well do online admin courses to improve on the lot, in my own time and be more current. There was another job (in a really cluttered office with a lot of filing!) of 'Admin Manager' (so loved the title) but really it was PA territory and I didn't like the thought of nipping out to buy phone credit, do your own IT computer setup and stuff like that.  
All the best with the endeavours.

TBagpuss

I don't think anyone else can answer whether it is viable for you to live off an apprentices wage for a year (My understanding is that if you are over 19 AND have completed a full year of the apprenticeship, the pay goes up to 'normal' NMW)

So, I think what you would need to do is to sit down and look at the figures.
How much would you have in income from the apprenticeship? 
Do you have any savings you could use to live off while earning the apprentice wage?
Would you be eligible to claim any additional support such as Universal Credit, and if so, how much? (check out https://www.entitledto.co.uk/ to see what you could claim and how much you would be likely to be entitled to) 
How do those figures compare with your current outgoings?
Would you be able to reduce your outgoings? If so, what are you willing to give up or cut back on in order to change careers? 

It's also worth bearing in mind that although the apprenticeship scheme allows employers to pay £4.30 n hour, it doesn't compel them to - some may be open to paying more. Last time my company took on an apprentice we chose to pay them well above the apprenticeship wage as we felt that we would be taking advantage of them to pay the minimum - we ae currently considering taking on another and again, would budget to pay more than £4.30 an hour - I don't know how common this is, but it is worth asking about t any interviews. 

In terms of being treated like a kid, it depends what you mean. Every workplace is different - if you join as an apprentice, you will be treated as a trainee and as someone who doesn't have experience in that role, because that's what you'll be. I would not expect, in most offices, that you would be treated as a child merely because you were an apprentice - but of course it depends a bit on what you think of as being treated like a kid. 

Nick212010

Deleted User said:

Sadly the real bar and one thing I hoped maybe overlooked was I didn't really have the GCSE marks to progress.  They honestly emailed asking to see certificate proofs from 1998!.

Yes, that‚Äôs correct. Without a certificate how else do you expect to prove to a training provider or employer that you have the GCSE grades you state on your job application form? Hope they don‚Äôt notice and ask? Good luck, because if the job or apprenticeship is dependent of sufficient prior learning which you don‚Äôt have and falsely declare you do, that‚Äôs gross misconduct. 

The reality is, apprentices are required to undertake functional skills if they don’t have maths and English GCSE grades at A* - C or 9 - 4 as part of their apprenticeship which could take them away even more from the workplace in order to learn and sit the exams. Some employers therefore will advertise apprenticeship rules with that as an essential requirement.

Also some qualifications attached to an apprenticeship programme set entry requirements of a similar grade range, and awarding bodies will penalise training providers and disqualify apprentices if they’ve been taken on without sufficient prior learning.

Here‚Äôs a top tip for you - don‚Äôt lose your original GCSE certificates. 

DanS1

I'm OK, I've still got my GCSE certificates from 2008.

TBagpuss

DanS1 said:

I'm OK, I've still got my GCSE certificates from 2008.

I read KeepCalm's post as being that they didn't get good enough grades at GCSE, and had been hoping because it was so long ago that no-one would check.
If that's the case, maybe look into courses to bring you up to that standard? You should be able to find courses for actual GCSEs or for Functional Skills level 2, which I believe is  CSE Equivalent for Maths and English, aimed at adult learners. 

Bookowl

In my local area apprenticeships at local colleagues are open to either new school leavers or those who want to change careers. An apprenticeship would lead to a career change and something new and exciting to learn.
could you apply for working tax credit or universal credit? Or housing  benefit if your on a low income?

laurabc

i am 29 and doing an admin apprenticship

MalMonroe

ushjr said:

I completely understand what you mean by being treated like a child. When I was 29 I acknowledged I knew nothing about the industry I was in because I did a specialist job so I did an industry certification the graduates do.

The emails we'd receive would begin "Hello graduates" which really annoyed me. One of the graduates emailed the group to organise a night out clubbing, needless to say I didn't go. Then when we had an industry wide party to celebrate getting our certification it was like being at the students union. 

What a shame. I embarked upon a full time university course at the age of 48, after having taken a voluntary redundancy. A single parent, I would never have been able to afford it otherwise. I loved the whole student experience, even receiving emails addressed to 'dear students' and also the nights spent clubbing. I think you have missed out on an awful lot by thinking you were better than some of the younger students. I still have 6 friends from Uni and they are all younger than me. I was never discriminated against because of my age by anyone, staff or student and I likewise never discriminated against anyone simply because they were younger than me. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the students' union! I had many a happy time in ours. You have to join in, or you miss out on so much. 

Now I'm 71 and about to launch my own internet business. I'm older than many others who do similar things but I don't care. I'm good at what I do, thanks to my Uni background!

MalMonroe

DanS1 said:

Was made redundant a couple of months back from my retail job and having next to no luck in securing a new job. I don't really want to go back to retail, and am looking at office and admin jobs which is something I've wanted to move into for a while. Went for an interview for a junior position yesterday which I'm still hearing to back from but don't hold out much hope. Am edging towards starting an apprenticeship in business admin but worried with me being nearly 30 with rent to pay that if I get into one I might be treated like a kid. I'm not so much worried about the pay as long as the apprenticeship is full time it will be enough to pay my rent. Just wondering if a £4.40 apprenticeship is viable at my age. If anything I just want the experience which will help me in a career I feel I would be well suited to.

Anyone can do an apprenticeship at any age. The only drawback is the salary. Of course, once you have successfully completed an apprenticeship you will be paid at the appropriate rate for your age group. You will be only treated like a kid if you act like one. In my experience, students of any kind and any age are treated as adults. Are there any loans you could apply for? Why not make further enquiries? Find out as much as you can before making a firm decision.

comeandgo

MalMonroe said:

DanS1 said:

Was made redundant a couple of months back from my retail job and having next to no luck in securing a new job. I don't really want to go back to retail, and am looking at office and admin jobs which is something I've wanted to move into for a while. Went for an interview for a junior position yesterday which I'm still hearing to back from but don't hold out much hope. Am edging towards starting an apprenticeship in business admin but worried with me being nearly 30 with rent to pay that if I get into one I might be treated like a kid. I'm not so much worried about the pay as long as the apprenticeship is full time it will be enough to pay my rent. Just wondering if a £4.40 apprenticeship is viable at my age. If anything I just want the experience which will help me in a career I feel I would be well suited to.

Anyone can do an apprenticeship at any age. The only drawback is the salary. Of course, once you have successfully completed an apprenticeship you will be paid at the appropriate rate for your age group.

Not correct, after the first year apprenticeship you must be paid at least the equivalent of the minimum wage for your age which is why most employers prefer younger apprentices as they can pay the lower age wage for longer.