Starting an apprenticeship as a 21 yr old

TomP · 1 Apr 2017

Im currently in my Final year of university studying Business Management.

However I've always had an interested in working with wood since a young age, then all my part time jobs have been maintenance/ handyman based.

Im starting to question whether i should just take the plunge and get myself an apprenticeship once i finish Uni.

One of the consideration I'm having is living off an apprentice wage for the first year whilst paying rent etc....

If anyone has any advice/ experiences it would help greatly

Tom

DTR · 3 Apr 2017

In recent years, apprenticeships have become an excuse to employ cheap labour far below the normal minimum wage. Even my local florist offers an apprenticeship :roll: . Apart from that, as an ex-apprentice myself (albeit not woodwork) I think a proper apprenticeship is a good way to really learn a trade. If you can find a serious employer who genuinely wants to train you instead of exploit you, I think an apprenticeship is a great idea.

thetyreman · 3 Apr 2017

Wouldn't it make sense to start a business with your kind of qualifications?

AJB Temple · 3 Apr 2017

Speaking as an employer, training people is expensive (day release, slow, distracting, increased risk etc). Businesses will only do it of there is something in it for them, which usually means if the person is any good they want a reasonably long term employee. What they do not want is to transfer a lot of skills and then have the person leave once they think they have some skills and possibly become or join a competitor.

So - if you are going to be an apprentice, you need to take the above seriously and find an employer who can deliver serious skills and to whom you can commit for a few years.

TomP · 4 Apr 2017

I agree it might seem more obvious to go down a business route, however I'm not going to kid myself to think i know enough to do do that after university.

My initial plan for after university was to try and get into Facilities management. However these last couple of months doing my assignments for my final year i am quickly coming to realisation id much rather be working with my hands and not looking at a screen for most of the day.

I just don't want to leave university, do a job i don't enjoy for a few years and regret not getting into woodworking. potentially the business and woodworking can compliment each other in the more distant future.

Would it be possible to say that its challenging to find a good apprenticeship? where not just cheap extra hands. Id like to think I'm more useful than a complete novice as have some knowledge/ experience already. and selection of my own tools.

Claymore · 4 Apr 2017

Tom you have a good attitude and wanting to do the job properly by training is the way to go if you want a long career doing what you love, don't forget that once you have your apprenticeship you can also take on commissions that will give you a chance you use your new found skill and also earn some extra cash.
Good luck with your search for a apprenticeship and maybe start by researching any local craftsmen doing the sort of stuff your interested in, ok It might not get you a job straightaway but one thing craftsmen do like is people who want to learn not just earn and in time it will pay off.
Cheers
Brian