AIBU to think that at 40 years of age I can apply for and do an apprenticeship?

[DeadZed]

I am really torn - I need to find a job soon. I have a few random qualifications, I'm fairly intelligent but I've never had a career.

I am now suddenly a single parent to four dc. I could get a job (I think fairly easily) - shop work, care work.

But I need something that will give me something to work for, I have a 30 year working span in front of me. When the dc reach 18 (youngest is 10) I will need to be able to support myself and help them through uni.

I've been looking on the government website at apprentices. I could work for small pay for two years and then have a qualification and a job. Things like dental nursing interest me.

So my AIBU is can I? Will be taken seriously? Is it viable? Has anyone else done it? I allways understood the the level three apprenticeships were for 16 - 18 year olds.
Help me, I'm in such a mess.

I don't see why not

Apprenticeship are for any age. I deliver apprenticeship and my oldest learner so far has been 55.

Do your homework on what you want to do, employers and training providers. Good luck

I’m 43 and about to, my employer offers them and whilst I have a degree and a postgrad it is in a different field and will improve my career prospects so yes, definitely!

Check the finances though, what could you claim whilst working for an apprentice wage?

I have an appointment with the jobcentre advisor on Tues - will they know about benefits?

At the moment, I am claiming JSA, HB, CTC, CB and BPS.

Don't most apprenticeships have an upper age limit of 26 on them? Or is that just government funded ones? It's been a while since I used to advise teenagers on them in a jobcentre, but there was definitely a limit back then. One that is completely organised and training paid for 100% by an employer could be different I suppose, but I would do some research and find out if it is technically possible.

I think apprenticeships should be for any age group these days. Like you say, working life is extremely long these days. Sometimes sectors change over time and jobs disappear and you need to retrain in a completely different field. This can be really hard these days as there are far fewer opportunities to start at the bottom and work your way up. Many many positions require a degree these days, particularly allied healthcare careers. It’s very hard if you already have a niche degree but the job that you want to work towards also requires a degree completely unrelated to what you have.

There are no student loans for people who need to do a second degree, so there needs to be a rethink of what can be done to help adults who want to retrain.

I have mentioned the phrase “these days” about 4 times there

It’s true though. Times have changed, and training for a different job is not as easy as jumping in at the bottom preparing to put the work in.

You may run into problems trying to claim benefits whilst doing an apprenticeship, I know that much. I dealt with a few young apprentices who had partners and/or children and needed to claim working tax credits. HMRC refused their claims as they weren't deemed to be in 'remunerative employment' due to earning below the threshold for income tax. No idea how UC works in that scenario though, or whether they've even thought about that scenario existing...

The jobcentre should be able to advise you on this though.

"I have an appointment with the jobcentre advisor on Tues - will they know about benefits?"

Did you make the appointment or are they making you go?

I REALLY wouldn't ask JC people about benefits. They are restricted in their advice by so many factors.

Apprenticeships generally are available to all ages but some have age restrictions placed on them.

Good luck with it all.

My DH did an apprenticeship a few years ago and he was able to claim working tax credits as we had a child, not sure if different now.
I’m in an apprenticeship now although am lucky enough to be paid the living wage, so some employers do offer higher wage although it’s taken me a long time to find this apprenticeship as at 23 I’m deemed to old!

Looking on the national apprenticeships website it seems that apprentice are supposed to be paid minimum wage for their age. I guess if you’re over 19 then it would make you a more expensive bet than a 16 year old, which might put a company off an older person applying.

I really hope you can work it out though, OP! Let us know if you manage to make any progress

The NHS have no upper age limit on apprenticeships and a friend aged 49 started one last year

One of my colleagues at work has just turned 50 and started an apprenticeship.

I'm an apprenticeship Assessor. Most of my Level 3 apprentices are at least late 20's. I have a couple now in their 40's and 50's. I would check out the benefit situation though, as they were already in work and were doing it as a progression route, so weren't as affected by the low pay.

You can also now do a degree apprenticeship - pick carefully and you could do 2 in 1!

I really wanted to do one as I was unemployed for ages and thought it would be a good way to train and get a new career with direction (I’m 39). However, they can be restricted depending on what qualifications you already have. According to the government website, you can’t do one that leads to a qualification lower than you already have. I have a Diploma from the OU so I’d have had to do a degree apprenticeship and they are few and far between (where I live anyway). Shame really, as I thought now that the age restriction was removed it would be a good opportunity to retrain in a different field.

The jobcentre are making me go. I was a carer for my late husband and am now unemployed/single parent.

I think that is a great idea.

I returned to university at 44 and will graduate in 2020 as a civil engineer.

Not easy, but SO worth it.

No practical advice but wanted to say that it's never too late and you absolutely should go for it Good luck!

You should be OK at any age. Dental Nursing is pretty tough in terms of content but if you’re scientifically literate, competent and interested you should cope.

Dental nursing standard:
findapprenticeshiptraining.sfa.bis.gov.uk/Apprenticeship/Standard/61

“According to the government website, you can’t do one that leads to a qualification lower than you already have. I have a Diploma from the OU so I’d have had to do a degree apprenticeship and they are few and far between (where I live anyway). Shame really, as I thought now that the age restriction was removed it would be a good opportunity to retrain in a different field.”

If that’s true that’s so demoralising. How are people supposed to get experience in a new field if they already have A-levels or even a degree?

Young people choosing their degree course now need to choose VERY wisely then, if thst’s The case. It seems all sorts of doors can close to them forever if they choose badly.!!

@SisyphusHadItEasy:

What do you mean by “returned to university”? Had you already been and done something totally different?

I think you can do an apprenticeship even if you have a higher qualification, but you have to self fund. Some (few) employers will keep you on a reasonable wage while you do this.