Don’t think I’m going to progress should I move on?

GrubbyGirl_2

Have you spoken to your employer?  They are clearly not getting the best value out of you but may not realise that this young guy is stopping you.  If I was your employer I would want to exploit your skills, maybe even to train the younger employee

zedonk

You definitely can retrain in your 40s. I started an adult apprenticeship at 43 and it's been a great way to change career. 

Tabieth

You’re only 45! You’ll likely be working for at least another 20 years. Definitely retrain if that’s what you want and find something you love (or can tolerate) in the coming years. 

El_Rey

zedonk said:

You definitely can retrain in your 40s. I started an adult apprenticeship at 43 and it's been a great way to change career. 

Would you mind sharing what it was you used to do, what you did your apprenticeship in and what you're doing now? It may just be able to inspire people who are feeling stuck. 

monkey-fingers

n1guy said:

Thanks for the advice.  Yeah I’m gonna have to either retrain but at my age 45 would anyone want me when qualified, or else take a menial job in something unrelated which is what I should have done in this case.  Just because you have the skills doesn’t mean a company will want or need them.  I think I’m just being held in limbo should I be needed at some point in the future. 

Can I just add here that as someone with significant skills (in another area), I was suddenly put at risk and made redundant 6 weeks ago. At 53, it made me realise very quickly that whilst I was being paid OK, my skills were wasted.

I wish I'd considered this 7 years ago when I was offered VR.

I've spent the month's risk period and the last 6 weeks getting the qualifications that I should have got from my company, but they refused to pay for - I've had to pay them myself.

As someone says above, use your personal time wisely. Reskill, or pivot. FE training would be an excellent use of your experience and it probably pays more than an experienced cabinet maker.

You can do the training in the evenings - most FE colleges offer these courses and often for free or very little.
Or you can even do online
https://online-learning-college.com/course/tquk-level-3-award-education-training/
It's £299, which for a Level 3 course is excellent!

If you can get your PTLLS, then with your experience, a college will likely take you on as a trainee teacher - have a chat with the careers people at your local FE college to see what they think.