Mature Apprentice

[rob1982]

Hey,

I'm sure this has been asked before on here. Sorry if it has. I just want an industry insiders opinion rather than the unreliable media's verdict. Would you employ a mature apprentice aged 30 +, and do you see any adavantages to having a mature student.

Many Thanks all.

 

[Zeespark]

Hi Rob, yes I would, as you have experience and maturity in the real world that a 16-18 year simply does not have.

Andy Guinness

 

[binky]

difficult balance between real world experience and not being as cheap as a youngster. My experience of older retrainees is varied. I myself am one, but kind of went straight down self employed route. Recently I have tried several older fellas, 1 was more interested in going to gym and general lifestyle to the point where after 5 years he still couldn't test a house. 1 seems more interested in his music - he's planning on giving up the 'on the road' lifestyle to suit family, but I feel he still isn't that interested, and the third guy seems a bit more keen and switched on than either of the above ( a memeber of this forum as it happens). If you are really keen to retrain, it can't be half hearted, you need to spend a lot of time on forums like this, and reading regs, and any other technical stuff you can find. This is the problem I have with the first 2 mature candidates, they both have interests outside of work which they seem to think is more important than improving their skills and knowledge. They are however still less annoying than youngsters, but if I'm going to have to spend time re-educating people, youngsters are cheaper.. :^O

PS don't expect to earn big money as per adverts.

 

[steptoe]

I have a mature trainee helping me out from time to time on a SE basis,

He gets a flat rate of £50 a day, and tbh, thats probably about what he earns me,

I have a labourer also from time to time, he earns more, as he makes me more, Im not training him, he is just doing what he does.

 

[binky]

sounds fair Steps, I have a habit of being a bit generous with the money, then getting fed up with low standards, and never using them again!!

 

[batty]

I think money will be your biggest problem at 30 you probably have responsibilities and somebody taking you on will need to justify your wages. As others have said mature students are probably more useful but it all depends if you can take a big wage cut for a few years till you get useful.

 

[Evans Electric]

Batty has made a good point there , a 30 yr old guy with a family & mortgage but has only done a college course is of limited use in all honesty .

Years ago the firm I was with took on an electrician, age about 28, from the old public utility that ran the network in this area , (MEB) (( Midlands Electricity Board))  .

He was classed by them as an electrician but his experience was in meter fitting .

We were dealing with steel conduit , SWA, Pyro   sorry MICC , FP 200 , T/earth ,   steel trunking /tray,  wiring new schools etc, car production tracks,  hogh bay lighting  etc etc etc . 

So although he was a nice guy he realised the we didn't go round fitting meters all day ...he was equal to a 17 yr old apprentice  but 5 times the money.

 

[binky]

OK so back to an old chestnut, what would you guys pay for a days work to an employee (I iam talking qualified, 2391 reasonable experience) is £100 a day good, £120, £150 ???

 

[steptoe]

Your very unlikely to get £100/day round here cards in for general sparking work

 

[OnOff]

All depends what SHE looks like................................ :coat

 

[binky]

Your very unlikely to get £100/day round here cards in for general sparking work

not even if testing??

 

[steptoe]

not even if testing??

nope,

£100 after deductions is seen as the target for subbies, [125£]

cards in guys dont get that in general, perhaps the odd exception of £12/hr tops I would say, most posts round here are going out at 10quid,

I suppose its a sign of the times with all the 5ww driving the prices down,

I know of at least one 5ww that is working for himself and thinks his business is paying when he charges out at £15/hr  :shakehead

 

[binky]

£15 / hour would equal going bust down here, but cost of living is high - all those retired Londoner types pushing house prices up! I pay young Sam £12 per hour, plus van and diesel.(He is fully qualified and passed 2391 first time at 21 years old, so a bit better than most). Having been paying contract labour £12 / hour, and they aren't that good. Think I need to rethink wages LOL

 

[steptoe]

£15 / hour would equal going bust down here, but cost of living is high - all those retired Londoner types pushing house prices up! I pay young Sam £12 per hour, plus van and diesel.(He is fully qualified and passed 2391 first time at 21 years old, so a bit better than most). Having been paying contract labour £12 / hour, and they aren't that good. Think I need to rethink wages LOL

it would equal going bust up here too.!!!!

only by the time these idiots have figured that out its too late and the taxman has hit them and they roll over,

most of them seem to be living off redundancy/savings/wifes wages and dont actually realise the cost of working for yourself until the end of the first year.

they only seem to think they are making an hours pay with NO overheads/tax/travel/diesel/insurance etc etc etc

 

[binky]

we get a lot of ex-navy who do the same thing as I've mentioned before, but most disappear as quickly as they turn up. Having been in business for 8 years now, I've upped prices to between £25 and £35 / hour depending on length of job, and customer ( I do discount for OAPs, charities etc). I'm currently snowed under with work and in the awful position of turning customers away because I can't cope with any more!!! It's taken a long time to get to this position Steps, and I seriously recommend making use of Facebook, and the likes of Which website, and that twitter non-sense - it's all cheaper than Yell and allows people to get a feel for you before even seeing you!!!

So job offer time, I need a fully qualified spark with own tools and transport ( a van will be forthcoming later). MUST be competent at testing.

 

[steptoe]

we get a lot of ex-navy who do the same thing as I've mentioned before, but most disappear as quickly as they turn up. Having been in business for 8 years now, I've upped prices to between £25 and £35 / hour depending on length of job, and customer ( I do discount for OAPs, charities etc). I'm currently snowed under with work and in the awful position of turning customers away because I can't cope with any more!!! It's taken a long time to get to this position Steps, and I seriously recommend making use of Facebook, and the likes of Which website, and that twitter non-sense - it's all cheaper than Yell and allows people to get a feel for you before even seeing you!!!

So job offer time, I need a fully qualified experienced spark with own tools and transport ( a van will be forthcoming later). MUST be competent at testing.

might help a bit,  no point in getting someone that has used their redundancy to buy themselves a business in the past 5 weeks, 

 

[binky]

experience essential - I hate having to sort out cock-ups

 

[rob1982]

Thanks for the info on this,

I have worked as a labourer before in the UK and Australia, I am back in the UK for good now and want to get a trade. Money at this stage is of no real importance to me as i have no financial ties, mortgage etc. It's the Training and experience I am after. As an "older" apprentice with some experience on building sites I know what it takes to put in a hard days graft and what is expected from someone work wise, what I do need help with is how to get into the Industry, IE, which courses to take and the best way to find an apprenticship, any help on this would be greatly appreciated.

cheers.

 

[BlueFlashAsh]

I have a mature trainee helping me out from time to time on a SE basis,

He gets a flat rate of £50 a day, and tbh, thats probably about what he earns me,

I have a labourer also from time to time, he earns more, as he makes me more, Im not training him, he is just doing what he does.

where you based step? im working as a labourer full time doing council sub work, a part time handy man for myself( only abour 2-3 call a week but building up bit by bit) and in my 2nd year now hopefully have my regs by may. could be handy to you?

Thanks for the info on this,

I have worked as a labourer before in the UK and Australia, I am back in the UK for good now and want to get a trade. Money at this stage is of no real importance to me as i have no financial ties, mortgage etc. It's the Training and experience I am after. As an "older" apprentice with some experience on building sites I know what it takes to put in a hard days graft and what is expected from someone work wise, what I do need help with is how to get into the Industry, IE, which courses to take and the best way to find an apprenticship, any help on this would be greatly appreciated.

cheers.

im in a similar boat experience is the hard bit to get but if you can afford to work for free its easer to get it. best bet is college getting an aprentership can be very hard but depends where ur living. but obviously if you can get an apprenticeship it is better all round as you gain a lot more hands on experiance plus after first year you get nmw so only really first year thats a real struggle.

 

[steptoe]

where you based step? im working as a labourer full time doing council sub work, a part time handy man for myself( only abour 2-3 call a week but building up bit by bit) and in my 2nd year now hopefully have my regs by may. could be handy to you?

im in a similar boat experience is the hard bit to get but if you can afford to work for free its easer to get it. best bet is college getting an aprentership can be very hard but depends where ur living. but obviously if you can get an apprenticeship it is better all round as you gain a lot more hands on experiance plus after first year you get nmw so only really first year thats a real struggle.

you have looked at my profile I guess?