I want to better myself but not sure where to start?

[Fullnessmind]

I am 47 and have cared for my daughter so didn't work until 10 years ago. I've missed out a huge chunk of my career and now find myself in a dead end job, which I am not happy in. It dawned on me that I have 20 years of employment left. Am I too old to retrain? I wouldn't know where to start. Would love to hear other people's experiences. Thank you x

Welcome! Glad you found your way here.

What are you interested in?

And what do you feel you’re good at? (What do your friends / family / colleagues think you’re good at?)

What’s your highest level of academic qualification?

There are so many places to start!

You could try some of the National Careers Service quizzes. nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/

Or get hold of a copy of the book What Colour Is Your Parachute?

Or browse all the threads here and see what appeals and what routes people have taken.

Forgot to say the National Careers Services has a telephone number to put you in touch with actual careers advisors if / when you want to speak to an actual person!

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@Fullnessmind, it's never too late! I'll be 49 when I go back to university in September. I did the same as you and realised there are 20+ working years ahead (going by the ever increasing retirement age!) and I wanted to do something interesting and rewarding with that time.

What qualifications do you have? Any transferable skills from your currently job? What fascinates you? Is there anything you think you'd enjoy doing every day? Do you want to do a degree? Or an apprenticeship? Anyone of any age can be an apprentice now.

BBC Bitesize do a fab careers A-Z list, you click on the job and it tells you about the role and the route into it, it's great. When a degree course requires A-levels, if you don't have them, a 1 year Access course will usually do the same job. Good luck.

@SaffronandSunflower thank you so much for response. I think I'd like to do an apprenticeship as cannot afford not to work. I have gcses but that is as highest I have. I'd quite like to stay in the NHS but preferably not admin, as I am now.
Where do I find apprenticeships?
I will look at BBC bitesize. Good luck with your course X

Hi @Fullnessmind, Google 'Degree Apprenticeships' , Ucas should come up first, click on that, then scroll down to 'What's Available' and click on one that interests you. Some are Postgraduate apprenticeships, but some are asking for 3 A-levels or an Access course.

If you want to go down that route, look at your local colleges to see if anyone does an evening part time Access to Nursing Diploma, so you can do it alongside your job.

Some apprenticeships, which you don't need a degree or A-levels for, can be found on Apprenticeship GOV. UK, although the wages aren't great, there may be something there that interests you.

Don't discount a degree because of finances though, depending on your circumstances you could get a student loan and on healthcare degrees can also get a £5,000 non-repayable bursary, which might work out better than an apprenticeship. There are lots of options for you, once you decided what it is you want to do.

Thank you for the well wishes. Good luck to you too.

How are you getting on, @Fullnessmind ?

Have you made any progress with your investigations? Would be good to know whether the National Careers Service has been of any help at all.