If the office 9-to-5 life isn't for you, you're probably looking for a career that offers you diversity and a chance to get out and try your hand at new tasks. For this reason, you may have decided that you would be well suited to a job in the trade industry. However, with so many to choose from you may be having a difficult time pinpointing which to specialise in. You may be set on going into the trade industry but be asking yourself, what trade should I learn?

In general, trade jobs are appealing; they can result in good salaries and a chance to be your own boss, learn useful manual skills and a whole other range of opportunities. Of course, every job has pros and cons and your personal preferences will determine what trade you are best suited to learning. To help you make that decision, we've come up with a few key things you should consider before diving into a trade.

Whichever trade you decide to learn you will be able to find a course that suits you at Access Training, take a look:

Click here to browse all of our trade courses

Are you more interested in building something, or fixing something?

Manual work is great because it teaches you skills that you can use in your life as well as that of your client's. But some things may interest you more than others, perhaps you're a problem solver, who upon seeing a task is set on working it out and fixing the problem. On the other hand, you may not want to fix problems; you may be interested in creating things from scratch.

Building something: If you want the chance to create something then carpentry is a good move for you. From small projects to buildings, you'll be constantly creating with your ability to turn materials into something else entirely.

Fixing something: Plumbers and electricians are often called out when something goes wrong with someone's plumbing or electrical systems. It'll be your job to find out what is wrong and fix it.

Do you prefer working on one project for a while or a new one each day?

If you like the stability of working in one place for an amount of time then you may be more interested in a job in carpentry and other jobs that are needed in construction work. If you are working on a building site these projects can last a varied amount of time and you are likely to see your creation grow over time.

In comparison, electricians, plumbers and gas engineers often work on multiple jobs over the course of a single day. Moving from project to project offers you the opportunity to solve new problems in a short amount of time. Although you may be asked to work on bigger projects like wiring a house or constructing the plumbing system for a building.

Would you rather spend time working indoors or outdoors?

This will depend on what kind of job you are carrying out, as most of the trades will have jobs that are outside or indoors, so hopefully, you don't mind either! Of course, there are some trades where you are more likely to work inside more than others, such as a kitchen fitter. However, locations for electricians, plumbers and gas engineers will depend if you're involved with domestic work or industrial work - but again, this will depend on the job!

If you prefer working outside then you may enjoy construction work. Construction workers are often working outside building houses or other buildings.

Browse Our Construction Courses >

Do you get claustrophobic working in tight places?

Some trade jobs will require working in tight spaces more than others. Electricians for instance often will have to crawl into tight areas such as ceiling spaces to access wires and other electrical systems. Plumbers are also sometimes required to work in confined spaces to access pipes and drains and other tighter work areas.

If you know this isn't for you, then you are less likely to come across this when working in carpentry, plastering and kitchen fitting as you are often in larger areas. These trade jobs give you more opportunities to stretch your legs in general. However, you may then need to consider how you feel about working at heights and other factors. Our advisors are more than happy to discuss this with you further so contact us today.

Are you colour blind?

If you are colour blind, one trade you may want to rule out is a career as an electrician. If you have trouble distinguishing colour then working with colour-coded wires will be a problem, and this could be dangerous. Wiring mistakes can damage what you're working on or even lead to electrocution.

Luckily, this is less of a problem with the other trades, so you should still be able to find one that you'll love learning!

Here are links to some of the courses we offer:

• Electrical Courses
• Plumbing Courses
• Gas Courses
• Plastering Courses
• Carpentry Courses
• Kitchen Fitting Courses
• Construction Site Courses

DISCLAIMER: Of course, we've listed some things you may want to consider when choosing a trade to learn, but your daily works will depend on the type of job you end up doing - e.g. whether you are working on domestic or industrial projects. Once you begin learning your trade, you will learn more about how you can specialise and what these roles will involve.

If you are still unsure about what the benefits of learning a trade are, you may be interested in our two helpful infographics:

• Should I learn a trade?
• Should I learn plastering or carpentry?

If you are still unsure which trade you are most suited for, get in touch with one of our expert course advisors. We pride ourselves on being able to help people find the career they love, so feel free to get in touch!

Contact Us >

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are now offering live online training sessions that allow you to start learning your trade from home. Join our virtual tutorials, interact with your instructor, and ask questions just as you would in a classroom setting; then, when you attend our training centre in person, you will be ready to focus on developing your practical skills. Click here to learn more about our online training packages.

If you've grown tired of your unfulfilling job, you may be considering a change of career. There are many reasons why you may be looking to retrain as an electrician, and Access Training provides a great way to learn this vital trade and get your career started.

Whether you're a complete newcomer or a qualified trade professional who's looking to learn some new skills, you can retrain as an electrician with the help of Access Training Academies. If you're ready to enrol, you can skip straight to our list of electrical courses - but for more information on why you should retrain as an electrician, keep reading.

Why retrain as an electrician?

• Good salary - Electricians are some of the highest earning tradespeople. On average, electricians earn around £32,000 a year. A fantastic salary worth working for.
  
  
• Work anywhere - With the current skills shortage, it is possible to find work as an electrician anywhere in the UK. Whether you want to relocate or just want to travel more.
  
  
• Be your own boss - Qualified electricians can pick the jobs that suit them, this freedom to work for yourself means you can pick your hours and take home all the money you've earned.
  
  
• No degree required - With many jobs there is the assumption that a degree is necessary to do well. However, becoming successful in a trade is possible with a course, apprenticeship and by gaining steady experience.

How long does it take to retrain as an electrician?

Traditionally, training as an electrician took up to three years as it was necessary to spend years studying in college and then take on an apprenticeship in order to qualify. However, there are now ways in which you can become a qualified electrician in a much shorter timeframe.

Our courses are designed to get you qualified as quickly as possible, whilst still ensuring you are fully able and competent at the job. Depending on your levels of experience, determination and the programme you choose to follow, you could be qualified within a few months.

This will vary between students, for instance, some of our students choose to retrain as an electrician part-time whilst they maintain other job and family commitments which may take longer. Ultimately we will help all of our students achieve their ambition, no matter how long they choose to study for. We will work with you to find realistic study goals and stick to them.

ONLINE TRAINING: We now offer live online training sessions - join our virtual classroom, interact with your expert tutor, and learn the basics of electrical work from the comfort of your own home. Of course, a professional electrician needs a lot of hands-on experience, so the practical part of your course will take place at our training centre as usual. Get in touch now to find out more!

Our electrical courses include a number of industry-recognised qualifications - more information here:

• Level 2 Electrical Training
• Level 3 Electrical Training

If you're interested in retraining as an electrician or taking any of our courses we are more than happy to help. We will advise you on what course would best suit your goals and circumstances. To speak to one of our expert advisors, contact us today.

So you’ve dropped out of university – now what?

It is completely valid if you feel lost or confused after making the decision to drop out of uni - it is a decision that takes a lot of courage and maturity! So before anything else, give yourself a big pat on the back and take a deep breath, everything will work out.

It’s perfectly natural to decide that your course wasn’t what you expected, or to find living away from home too hard or expensive, or maybe you simply didn't enjoy the university lifestyle. There is nothing undignified about changing your mind once you’re there. In fact, more than 40,000 undergraduate students dropped out of university in 2022/23, so you aren’t alone!

Whatever the reason, it isn’t the end of the world. University is not the only path to a successful life and career. However, with so much pressure from schools and parents put on students to attend uni, many students do not even consider the other career routes you can take which will provide you with just as prosperous a future.

If you are one of the thousands who discovered that university doesn’t necessarily give you ‘the best three years of your life' and are searching for a new direction to go in, then read on - there is something better suited for you out there somewhere.

Dropped out of uni...what now?

1. Apprenticeships
2. Choose a Different Course
3. Take a Gap Year
4. Work Full-Time
5. Learn a Trade

1) Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships are in many ways a better alternative to university. As opposed to a long, drawn-out university course, an apprenticeship is like a paid work placement where you learn valuable new skills and gain experience while you practise them. Apprenticeships can provide routes into various different industries and careers just as well as university courses can, from social care to engineering and IT.

Apprenticeships are also much more cost-efficient than university, as you can earn while you learn. This means you won’t have to suffer crippling debts brought on by years in university, with the added insecurity of having to find your own job after the course. So, if you're not sure what to do after dropping out of uni, why not consider an apprenticeship?

2) Choose a Different Course

Unless you’re certain about choosing a particular university course, it can be difficult to know for sure if you’ve picked the right one. You might find that a few weeks into the course it doesn't feel right for you or it wasn’t what you expected - this is natural and a problem easily solved.

If the course isn’t your cup of tea, but you enjoy the university lifestyle, it’s never too late to simply apply for a different course. If anything, it might give you a fresh start, a new boost of energy and make you think about your future in a completely different way. Changing course is a great alternative to dropping out of uni completely, just make sure you choose your replacement course carefully!

3) Take a Gap Year

Lots of people that aren't sure what to do after they've dropped out of university opt to take a gap year. This is a great option if you can’t decide what course to re-apply for or the timing is not quite right for you. Perhaps you just need a chance to find what direction you want your life to take.

In this case, taking a gap year might be a chance to take a well-earned break, reconsider, and plan ahead. With so little time between secondary school and university to decide what you want to do next, it’s hard to be sure that university is the right option until you’re actually there.

Leaving university and taking a gap year to travel, work, think, and enjoy yourself is a great way of biding time to carefully consider your options, and perhaps an entirely new and unexpected route will open up before you.

4) Work Full-Time

While in university, you might become restless and feel an urge to get out into the working world as soon as possible. This is especially true if you aren’t happy with your chosen course, and is definitely a common motive for dropping out of university.

Working full time with the qualifications you gained from school is certainly a rewarding experience and can help make you into a self-sufficient, independent adult. That being said, there are a lot of jobs that will require education of A-level standard or higher. If you have dropped out of uni and are finding it hard to find work, it could be really beneficial to gain some additional skills for your CV.

You could try learn a new language, sign up for an art class, take a marketing course - the list goes on! Getting stuck back into learning on your own terms is great to build your confidence and boost your CV for future employers.

5) Learn a Trade

An increasingly popular and stable route for university dropouts is pursuing a career in the trade industry. Perhaps, after having gone to university, you realise that your particular skills are better suited to practical, hands-on work, rather than the tedium of academia. Learning a trade is a great way to harness those skills and turn them into a lucrative career.

Private colleges like us at Access Training provide a wide range of training courses from plumbing and gas engineering to electrical and tiling, all designed to produce highly qualified tradespeople.

With expert tutors, excellent facilities and well-designed courses, Access Training provide the best preparation for working in the trade industry.

Although university is a great opportunity for a large portion of young people, and it’s true that picking the right course can excel you through the working world, this isn’t the case for everybody.

If you have just dropped out of uni and are thinking 'what now?', contact us to enquire about a trade skills course with Access Training today. Our course advisors are always available to talk you through your options.

If you're reading this article, it's probably because you're worried about your A level results. Perhaps you're awaiting your final grades with a sense of dread...or perhaps you've already received them, and you haven't met the requirements of your conditional offer.

This is a tough blow, but you mustn't wait long to start thinking about what options remain before you now that your preferred university course is off the table. If you didn't get the grades required for your first choice uni, there are still several other routes you can take—it isn't the end of the world, even though it might feel like it.

If you didn't get the grades for uni, read on to find out what you can still do to provide yourself with a secure career and future prospects.

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