There seems to be a misconception surrounding apprenticeships that they’re only for young people straight out of school.
While this is true for lots of people, apprenticeships are a valuable resource to older groups as well. In fact, for this current academic year, over 25s make up 41.5% of new apprenticeship starts in the UK.
One of many in their 30s doing an apprenticeship
I am among this group of over 25s and I have just started my Level 3 apprenticeship. While attending university and gaining a degree in my early twenties had its merits, completing an apprenticeship in my thirties will be much more beneficial to my career in the long run.
Here are a few reasons why I’m benefitting from doing an apprenticeship in my thirties.
You don’t always know what career route to take at 18
Asking an 18 year old to know what direction they want their life to go in is a pretty big ask. When you leave school at 18 you don’t know a lot about the working world and you can’t always be completely sure what route to take. There are a few lucky people that know exactly what they want to do from a young age, but for most, it takes a lot longer.
You’ve got to try out different jobs until you find the right one
To me, it made more sense to venture out into the world with the skills and interests I did have. I tried out a few jobs, and found out what I liked and what I absolutely didn’t like.
I worked in the service industry for nearly a decade and it taught me a lot. It’s a perfectly valid career choice but it didn’t motivate me. Finding out what I didn’t like has been just as important as discovering what I do want from my career.
After ten years I hit a career crossroad
After ten years in the service industry, I was in a rut. I’d gotten everything out of it that I possibly could, yet I was still working every hour under the sun to make ends meet. I knew I wanted to do something different, but I didn’t know where to start.
The apprenticeship opportunity at Timpson came at just the right time. I was ready to learn something new. I jumped at the chance. Not only was I embarking on an exciting new career path, but I would receive several qualifications in the process.
Learning new skills at work invigorated me
It’s easy to forget what a privilege it is to have the opportunity to learn something new. I didn’t realise how rewarding learning could be until I found the path that was right for me.
A second chance to reach my full potential
One of my biggest regrets in life is not utilising my time at university to the fullest. I was young and foolish and didn’t take advantage of the opportunities I was given, ending up with a much lower grade than I knew I was capable of. Now that I’ve got the chance for a sort of do-over, I don’t plan on wasting it.
I’m so grateful to my employers for giving me the chance to better myself and finally reach my potential. That’s the main thing I take away from starting this apprenticeship in my thirties – gratitude.
