Am I Too Old to Learn a Trade?

One question we get asked a lot here at Access Training is - am I too old to learn a trade? The short answer is no! Our courses are available to people of all ages and abilities and can work around your pre-existing responsibilities. Whether you're finishing school and looking to become an electrician through a full-time course, or 40 and hoping to become a plumber through one of our part-time courses, we can accommodate you.

Coronavirus pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic has really made people of all ages re-evaluate their careers. A lot of people who previously thought their jobs were secure have been left without a reliable source of income for months. Both the younger and older generations have struggled to make ends meet (a global pandemic doesn't discriminate by ages), so it comes as no surprise that people in all age groups have been looking for their next career move.

Electricians, plumbers and gas engineers are key workers and have been in high demand throughout the pandemic. While a lot of workers were asked to work from home and isolate as much as possible, tradespeople have been working solidly throughout the pandemic to keep our homes safe and warm.

Unsurprisingly, people began to see the value of learning a trade in a completely new light - tradespeople will always be in demand, come hell or high water. Over the past year, we've had people of all ages and from all backgrounds approach us to learn a trade. If you're willing to learn and capable of picking up the skills and knowledge needed to become a successful tradesperson, age will not stop you!

Sticking with a career path

From a very young age, we are taught that we should go to school, get a job, and work hard to progress within our chosen field. Of course, (as we've seen over the past year) life is never that straightforward, and something that you have an interest in at 18 years old, might not be reflective of your goals and aspirations at 45. We spend a huge portion of our lives at work, so it's really important that the work we do makes us happy. You might not have been made redundant during the COVID-19 pandemic, but that doesn't mean you should continue working in a job that makes you unhappy. If you'd be happier spending the rest of your working years working as a tradesperson, get in touch.

Transferable skills

People that learn a trade later in life, often find that they can draw on their previous experience to help them become be a better tradesperson. We find that people from an educational background thrive in the classroom and find it really easy to absorb the theoretical knowledge required to become a tradesperson. Meanwhile, people from business backgrounds have no trouble taking their newfound skills and creating a profitable company. These are just a few examples that show you may actually grasp our training better if you've already been in the workplace for several years prior.

Browse Our Trade Courses

Case Study: Rob previously worked in IT and construction

If you want to see an example of someone who learned a trade later in life, meet Rob! Rob was working in IT and construction for over 35 years before he decided to train with us. His previous job took him all over the country, but Rob decided he wanted to become self-employed and needed some additional qualifications to get his new venture going. Many people are stuck in the same routine and think they're too old to learn a trade, but Rob is a fine example of someone who wanted to take on additional skills in later life and we were more than happy to help him do so.

Here at Access Training, we really do believe that people of all ages and backgrounds can learn a trade if they work hard. We're more than happy to discuss our courses with you to find one that suits your previous experience and skill level. Contact us now to find out more!