Career change in your 50s

[NigellaWannabe1]

Hi, I'd like some advice for my brother. He's 50 and this is his background:

Postgraduate qualification in Social Work
Worked for 20+ years in social work. Hated it. Burnt out and left it.
Has worked as a decorator since the pandemic.
Extremely good with people and with his hands (can fix anything in the house) but not great with paperwork.

He needs to earn more, basically. My impression is that he might struggle going back to professional work as he can get quite stressed with the demands that come with that. He's also not great with computers and things have moved on massively since the pandemic on that front.

I know decorators can earn a fortune in some parts of the country, but not so much where he lives. What can he do that pays a little better? Many thanks.

I hear it is possible to do an apprenticeship or qualification at the local college in a trade would this suit him perhaps? He could look into what funding is available. Something like stonemasonry or plumbing?

I know someone who gets quite well paid for fitting people's smart meters as well could be an option

I also think a trade might suit him better. And I was wondering about training to be a heat pump / solar panel / etc engineer (for example) might work. I guess it depends how long the training is and if some of it is funded by the government? There must be some funded training for in-demand trades... maybe not.

Does anybody know?

Any more ideas?

Hi, I haven't got any ideas, but I'm also interested in this! Bumping up for both of us x

Social Work lecturer? Or does he want to forget about SW altogether?

Landscape gardener?

Security guard? Many agencies and lots of basically monitoring roles.

Thanks for your answers. He actually did some lecturing years ago but it didn´t work for him. As for security guard, I don't imagine he would be earning more than he is now. Landscape gardener - I suppose it´s the same, although I can see how once you are established, you'd have potential for more.

Does anybody know about the training needed to become a heat pump engineer, or a similar trade where you could earn decent money relatively soon? I realise at his age, his options are narrower than for younger people. Thanks!

Look at jobs with charities.

His background in social work would be useful.

Vacancies are usually advertised on the CharityJobs website or the Guardian jobs site.

Handyman? For those small jobs that no one can ever get someone to do...

But as a handyman, the OP's brother wouldn't be earning more than as a decorator.

I'm Inter but unfortunately I haven't got many ideas!

Try your local water company, they often have openings for technical site staff. It might not be amazingly paid but it's often a very secure job with good pension scheme.

Near me they are advertising for bin lorry drivers: £28k, local government pension, 4-day week (presumably long shifts). Seemed like a good offer.
You do need the right licence to drive a lorry, but maybe other council manual jobs with similar terms might be suitable. Or fitting electrical chargers etc.

There is a shortage of painters and decorators - ours charge a fortune.
If he likes doing what he is doing maybe speak to a small business advisor at his bank and pay someone to do his books.

They're desperate for bus drivers round here - advertising trainees with paid training for £26-32k plus overtime.