Is it too late for me?

[fRAiLtY]

Hi all,

I’m 38 years old and currently at a bit of a crossroads in life. I recently closed my printing business after joining as an apprentice at 17 and working my way up to eventually purchasing the ailing Company (emotional and costly decision) in 2023. I’m now trying to figure out what’s next. The trades have always appealed to me – I’ve got a lot of respect for the skills involved and the satisfaction of doing proper hands-on work – but I’m wondering if I’ve left it too late to adapt. Prior to starting at the print company in October 2004, I spent the spring and summer holiday with a local plumber day-to-day, and loved it. Things change and I ended up taking the job at the printers and here we are.

I’ve always had a strong work ethic. I’m someone who sticks around until the job’s done right, not just when the clock says to down tools. While my background isn’t in the trades, I’ve spent years doing physical, practical manual work with heavy machinery and engineering. I’m not shy of getting stuck in, learning new things, or pulling my weight. I've renovated large parts of my own house, fitted my downstairs cloakroom suite, designed and fitted my kitchen, tiling, soldering, basic plumbing bits like dressing up sinks/basins, fixing leaks, replacing doughnut washers on toilets etc, all basic stuff. Whilst I don't like to make light of what's involved in the trades, I do believe I could turn my hand to most things given time and proper training and become an asset who can add value.

I know DIY'ers can get a bad rep, and whilst that's what I would consider myself, I'd like to think I'm a reasonably alright DIY'er. I'm very fussy, done quite a bit of electrical bits and carpentry too, fitted door liners, skirtings, architraves, built stud walls and hung doors etc. I'm trying not to come across as a know-it-all but also want to stress that I have some skills that could be built upon.

Is 38 too old to start from scratch in a trade? What do employers and tradespeople actually look for in a new starter or assistant? Are some trades more open to mature beginners than others? Would I need to go down the apprenticeship route - which of course is difficult at 38 with a mortgage and 2 kids, or are there other entry points - perhaps finding a local one-man band who's in need of some help and going from there?

I’m not expecting it to be easy, and I know I’d be starting at the bottom, but I’m up for it. I just want to make sure I’m not being unrealistic.

If anyone’s made a similar move later in life or has taken someone on in a similar position, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Cheers in advance

 

[fillyboy]

Hi all,

I’m 38 years old and currently at a bit of a crossroads in life. I recently closed my printing business after joining as an apprentice at 17 and working my way up to eventually purchasing the ailing Company (emotional and costly decision) in 2023. I’m now trying to figure out what’s next. The trades have always appealed to me – I’ve got a lot of respect for the skills involved and the satisfaction of doing proper hands-on work – but I’m wondering if I’ve left it too late to adapt. Prior to starting at the print company in October 2004, I spent the spring and summer holiday with a local plumber day-to-day, and loved it. Things change and I ended up taking the job at the printers and here we are.

I’ve always had a strong work ethic. I’m someone who sticks around until the job’s done right, not just when the clock says to down tools. While my background isn’t in the trades, I’ve spent years doing physical, practical manual work with heavy machinery and engineering. I’m not shy of getting stuck in, learning new things, or pulling my weight. I've renovated large parts of my own house, fitted my downstairs cloakroom suite, designed and fitted my kitchen, tiling, soldering, basic plumbing bits like dressing up sinks/basins, fixing leaks, replacing doughnut washers on toilets etc, all basic stuff. Whilst I don't like to make light of what's involved in the trades, I do believe I could turn my hand to most things given time and proper training and become an asset who can add value.

I know DIY'ers can get a bad rep, and whilst that's what I would consider myself, I'd like to think I'm a reasonably alright DIY'er. I'm very fussy, done quite a bit of electrical bits and carpentry too, fitted door liners, skirtings, architraves, built stud walls and hung doors etc. I'm trying not to come across as a know-it-all but also want to stress that I have some skills that could be built upon.

Is 38 too old to start from scratch in a trade? What do employers and tradespeople actually look for in a new starter or assistant? Are some trades more open to mature beginners than others? Would I need to go down the apprenticeship route - which of course is difficult at 38 with a mortgage and 2 kids, or are there other entry points - perhaps finding a local one-man band who's in need of some help and going from there?

I’m not expecting it to be easy, and I know I’d be starting at the bottom, but I’m up for it. I just want to make sure I’m not being unrealistic.

If anyone’s made a similar move later in life or has taken someone on in a similar position, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Cheers in advance

Friend of mine, plumbing and heating engineer went into it quite late in life, 30+. Easy enough to do an intensive gas safe or what was corgi qualification, don't know how much it costs these days, the hard part is the practical side. My friend worked with an older plumber for a year earning very little money but it gave him the hands on experience. He's a good 'people person' which helps, he's also got a good all round experience, he'll do a little plastering and he's a competent tiler, although I've done quite a few bathrooms with him and we had an arrangement whereby he'd do the plumbing and I'd do the rest, we had a good electrician as well. (I'm retired now btw)
Do you know any trades people who might take you under their wing?

In my area I'm seeing a lot of people advertising as a 'handy man' and they're charging decent money.

Go for it, I did when I was maybe a year or two younger than you and had a good long run until my hip gave out last Sept, you might need to advertise for the first year, look at setting up a website with someone like Vistaprint, it's cheaper than you might think, after that word of mouth will take over (one way or the other).

Many of my customers are now personal friends and keep in touch.

Just go for it, you've only got one shot at life.

 

[Ihavenojob]

Electrics is probably the way to go, especially with renewables such as solar. The area is still quite young, so you may be a similar age to those electricians going over to it.

 

[Highway Man]

With a work ethic that you have I would say yes. You may find it difficult to get a start somewhere but I would say you have a better chance than a school leaver.

 

[Notch7]

I suggest you have a look at heat geek and Urban plumber YouTube channels, there is a growth market in heat pump systems and for more efficient gas boiler systems both utilise low flow temp system designs.

 

[fillyboy]

I suggest you have a look at heat geek and Urban plumber YouTube channels, there is a growth market in heat pump systems and for more efficient gas boiler systems both utilise low flow temp system designs.

Too niche, could all disappear next year.

 

[johnny2007]

My advice: don't leave what you're doing now until you've established yourself enough to pay the mortgage with the new job.
Advertise on social media as handyman, you will be inundated with calls if you play your cards right.
Give an indicative hourly rate in your ad and make clear that you'll do all the little jobs around the house that husbands are supposed to do: hanging pictures and curtains, clean patios, cut grass, replace taps, fit laminate and anything else you're comfortable with.
A guy I know retired at 55 from his office job and started like this; soon he was working full time again with a waiting list!
He charges by the hour for small "husband jobs" and fix quotes for anything more complex like plumbing and decorating.
He secretly calls himself "husband for rent", don't know how far he fulfils the husband's duties though...
Bear in mind, he has always been a hands on guy and helped me many times with big projects, so he had construction knowledge when he started.
I suppose the number of requests depends on location, we're in london where it's virtually impossible to get a tradesman to attend for a small job like replacing a tap or hang curtains.
Small villages might be more difficult or easier, who knows?
Good luck!

 

[JohnD]

38 is not too old for a change of career.

I think you are ready to put the effort in to learn a new job professionally to a high standard.

Customers will tend to automatically assume that as a mature man you are experienced. Keep your mouth shut and don't tell them otherwise.

 

[diy_fun_uk]

I knew a guy, granted with previous experience in electricals, who worked for the public sector in a non related role. He became disillusioned in his early 50s, got his electrical certification, left his public sector role and set up as an electrician.

I don't think 30s/40s is too late. Let's face it, if the 'experts' are to be believed, the workforce will need to increasingly adapt to two maybe three different careers throughout their working lifetime.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

I’m 38 years old and currently at a bit of a crossroads in life. I recently closed my printing business after joining as an apprentice at 17 and working my way up to eventually purchasing the ailing Company (emotional and costly decision) in 2023.

Is that business still in operation, providing some income? As others have suggested, start up as a general handyman, maybe doing a bit in your spare time, and let that gradually take over your time. See which aspect of the trades you like, then concentrate on that. Good plumbers are always in demand, and it's maybe the easiest trade to get into with no qualifications. From there, you could move to heating engineer, and invest in Gas Safe training.

 

[CountryFan]

@fRAiLtY - just to clear up any confusion gas safe don’t offer training or qualifications they are a register held under the ownership of the health and safety executive (HSE) and is currently ran by Capita. If you become gas qualified via an ACS route, then you can apply for registration.

 

[fillyboy]

Customers will tend to automatically assume that as a mature man you are experienced. Keep your mouth shut and don't tell them otherwise.

Sound advice, I've had a few helpers over the years, part time but imminently qualified for what was needed, but I did need to remind them not to tell the customer they were in the Police Force or fire brigade. Occasionally it came out but not before they had come across as a sound worker good at what he was doing.

When I started out, I wasn't actually qualified at anything, I just had the skills, I later qualified as a plasterer but that was purely to get an NVQ to get a cscs card because I was offered some Council work.

 

[Highway Man]

A bloke at the place I work is in his late 50s. He is classed as a road worker 1. General dogs body but he is such a good worker with a great attitude that he has recently been put on a Roadworker 3 course. He will work with us grade 3s for 3 years and is studying for his exams on-line which doesn't entail him having to take any time out of work. We all help him out as he is keen as mustard and pays attention to everything we tell him. He climbed his first tower with me last week and although he was nervous and doesn't like heights, he came through just fine. At your age it is not a barrier. Just go for it and as others have said, try out a bit of handy work to gain the experience of what tools you need and what type of work you would like to do. Above all get the age out of your head, it isn't an obstacle.

 

[Deleted member 317777]

Hi all,

I’m 38 years old and currently at a bit of a crossroads in life. I recently closed my printing business after joining as an apprentice at 17 and working my way up to eventually purchasing the ailing Company (emotional and costly decision) in 2023. I’m now trying to figure out what’s next. The trades have always appealed to me – I’ve got a lot of respect for the skills involved and the satisfaction of doing proper hands-on work – but I’m wondering if I’ve left it too late to adapt. Prior to starting at the print company in October 2004, I spent the spring and summer holiday with a local plumber day-to-day, and loved it. Things change and I ended up taking the job at the printers and here we are.

I’ve always had a strong work ethic. I’m someone who sticks around until the job’s done right, not just when the clock says to down tools. While my background isn’t in the trades, I’ve spent years doing physical, practical manual work with heavy machinery and engineering. I’m not shy of getting stuck in, learning new things, or pulling my weight. I've renovated large parts of my own house, fitted my downstairs cloakroom suite, designed and fitted my kitchen, tiling, soldering, basic plumbing bits like dressing up sinks/basins, fixing leaks, replacing doughnut washers on toilets etc, all basic stuff. Whilst I don't like to make light of what's involved in the trades, I do believe I could turn my hand to most things given time and proper training and become an asset who can add value.

I know DIY'ers can get a bad rep, and whilst that's what I would consider myself, I'd like to think I'm a reasonably alright DIY'er. I'm very fussy, done quite a bit of electrical bits and carpentry too, fitted door liners, skirtings, architraves, built stud walls and hung doors etc. I'm trying not to come across as a know-it-all but also want to stress that I have some skills that could be built upon.

Is 38 too old to start from scratch in a trade? What do employers and tradespeople actually look for in a new starter or assistant? Are some trades more open to mature beginners than others? Would I need to go down the apprenticeship route - which of course is difficult at 38 with a mortgage and 2 kids, or are there other entry points - perhaps finding a local one-man band who's in need of some help and going from there?

I’m not expecting it to be easy, and I know I’d be starting at the bottom, but I’m up for it. I just want to make sure I’m not being unrealistic.

If anyone’s made a similar move later in life or has taken someone on in a similar position, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Cheers in advance

I changed trades at 39, it was hard work for a few years but I’ve made it work for me.

It’s never too late, a bloke I trained with was 50 and went for it. He’s doing well now.

 

[fillyboy]

A bloke at the place I work is in his late 50s. He is classed as a road worker 1. General dogs body but he is such a good worker with a great attitude that he has recently been put on a Roadworker 3 course. He will work with us grade 3s for 3 years and is studying for his exams on-line which doesn't entail him having to take any time out of work. We all help him out as he is keen as mustard and pays attention to everything we tell him. He climbed his first tower with me last week and although he was nervous and doesn't like heights, he came through just fine. At your age it is not a barrier. Just go for it and as others have said, try out a bit of handy work to gain the experience of what tools you need and what type of work you would like to do. Above all get the age out of your head, it isn't an obstacle.

Has he been up in your cherry picker?