In a bit of a RUT and wanna turn things around but getting nowhere fast.

[always1more 0]

Biggest mistake I made in my life was leaving school and going working with my old fella, joiner by trade. Long story so I won't bore you.

I can put my hand to almost anything given the chance. I am 44 now and not getting any younger, I've always serviced my own cars since 17...can't afford garage costs...I am also confident with work on motorcycles...which is leading to me wanting to go on my own like a little worshop...trouble is I can't lay out any money really..also I've been searching online for Motorcycle Apprentiships in Merseyside but there is feckall and this is now getting me down as nobody is willing to give you a chance.

It seems as though you should be in a job to apply for Uni or College.

Now I'm thinking of another career in the near future and that is to become a Security Guard/ or steward on say live gigs and sports venues. Bit cheaper option as I only need to go in for a SIA license.

I'd love to be a mechanic, something now I'm saying to myself I should have done from the start of my life.

On a downer really looking all over and sweet FA....when you go on google and search you're area there are sites coming back that either want paying to look can't be arsed with all that. Anybody got any pointers please as I'm stuck now and really want to do something with my life as I'm not getting any younger.

Going back to Joinery is not a option now as I've been hurt by the Old Man and his Brother which has left me with no interest whatsoever in the building game anymore.

Thanks in advance

[Stue11 0]

Bloodyhell Tim dont know where to start mate,whatever you choose to do just make sure your happy with the job in hand, im sure something will come along mate, as long as youve got ya health nowt else matters easy for me to say but its my moto in life, ive always said and will always say it, good luck mate all the best, keep us updated

[Grumpyowl 0]

Have you thought about doing a mobile service from the back of a van,

At peoples homes or place of work, basic stuff General service oil/filters chain maintenance, brake pads etc.
minimum tools good set paddock stands (front under yolk)

Wheel removal take wheels to tyre fitters get tyres fitted return and replace wheels.

Basic stuff that people can't or wont do themselves.

Also valeting of bike incn service.

fitting of aftermarket parts, handelbars
engine crash bars etc.

MOT prep.

[Stue11 0]

@Grumpyowl wrote:

Have you thought about doing a mobile service from the back of a van,

At peoples homes or place of work, basic stuff General service oil/filters chain maintenance, brake pads etc.
minimum tools good set paddock stands (front under yolk)

Wheel removal take wheels to tyre fitters get tyres fitted return and replace wheels.

Basic stuff that people can't or wont do themselves.

Also valeting of bike incn service.

fitting of aftermarket parts, handelbars
engine crash bars etc.

MOT prep.

[Neill 0]

Have a look into retraining as an Electrician M8 great trade

[Chas 0]

Being able to cut a length of 4x2 & build my own shed does not make me joiner. Similarly, servicing & repairing your car/bike competently does not make you a mechanic.

Have you thought about roadside recovery?

A lot of mechanics try it out simply for the experience or to get out of the garage for awhile but the skills needed aren't really that hard. You won't get a look in with the AA or RAC but you will have at least 2-3 dedicated recovery co's in your area, that's not counting the small service/repair garages that do it as a sideline.

It's a job you'll either love or hate & you soon find out which, they tend to have high staff turnovers so there's always an opportunity going.

I know quite a few who've done this, I still do it Ad Hoc to keep my finger in, & most go on to better things. If you want start at the bottom then this is a good first rung.

[RichardH 0]

No advise from me but just like to say, hope it all works out for you mate

[always1more 0]

Thanks for the reply's fella's

Like the sound advise here off Grumpy and Neill, will have a ponder and sort something out

I'm not sure I'm reading Chas correct me if I'm wrong in that you say cutting 4x2" does not make me a joiner. I'm time served, I can fit kitchens, wardrobes, windows, staircases etc etc think I must have said joiner for the fun of it. I meant Carpenter

Anyway like I said I'll sort something out pretty soon

[trebor4460 0]

Can't really think of any advise to give you Tim but I can certainly wish you all the best and hope you don't get too down cos you never know what's round the corner

[flange 0]

You could try something like Grumpy suggested.You could do it part time(over 16 hours a week) to start with and you should get help with tax credits etc to make your money up so you had time to build it up.

[Chadatious 0]

Apprentiships are hard. im 17 after a bike one but no luck. BMW are doing some but prefer 17-19 year olds and you need 5 c level gcse's i do but not where they want them so thats naff. but car ones seem to be abit more common maybe try that and work it towards the bike? when ive applied for few bmw are interested in me as a body shop which i would enjoy so waiting for them to get something local, but still applieing.

If you want an apprenticship, may be diofficult due to your age as they like teenagers but worth a try. the website i found loads on is www.apprenticeships.org.uk

[always1more 0]

@Chadatious wrote:

Apprentiships are hard. im 17 after a bike one but no luck. BMW are doing some but prefer 17-19 year olds and you need 5 c level gcse's i do but not where they want them so thats naff. but car ones seem to be abit more

If you want an apprenticship, may be diofficult due to your age as they like teenagers but worth a try. the website i found loads on is www.apprenticeships.org.uk

Morning m8, sorry to hear you're not having much luck either, yeah I spent the whole morning yesterday reading up here in there and for them wanting you to have 5c level GCSE's well that's me stuffed for a start.

Also you are correct on my age, I mentioned this to a m8 yesterday on facebook, he's said age is nothing just get on with it, but I can see it being a problem. Hope you get something sorted young man fingers x for you

Trebor morning Rob,

Yeah I keep saying that there is something round the corner but time is flying by so quickly nowadays, just gotta keep hoping

flange..morning m8,

Hey that's not a bad idea at all, thinking here that would be the best way to start off, then build on that, taa m8

Thanks m8's feeling better just reading up here

[Davehutch-hutchs 0]

Sorry Tim I dont have any advice , but I must admit I am sick to death of the building trade myself now Wish I knew the answers, cant see me being able to carry on till retirement even if i live that long , But good luck to you and hope you find what your looking for

[always1more 0]

Thanks Dave, its good to hear it from somebody who is in the same game, but at the same time sorry for you m8.

I'm looking at it from another angle and that is there is always somebody else worse off so I've got a be thankful for all I have now

I'll keep you posted and likewise m8 you keep us posted

[suzukijax 0]

Go on vistaprint get some FREE cards made up with an email and phone number and hand them out in the area your looking at you can also get a poster for the side of your car which is magnetic so stick that on and people will see that no matter where you are. Have you looked into college doing night classes. Or speak to a small local garage and see if they can come up with some training for free and do your normal job just to tie you over to pay the bills. The idea of doing services for your friends locally to start off with is a good idea hubby does this as he wants to work with bikes and even though your not making money out of your mates the word gets around and something could come of it. Good luck hope it works out for you

[E.goldstein 0]

Hi Always1more,

Ok, so you’re a time served Carpenter, you have a cool skill that you are good at I am sure, have you thought about going to the local collage and teaching night School, it may restart your passion.

It’s hard to change jobs and the grass always looks greener on the other side of the road!

Good luck with whatever you choose.



E.goldstein “they watching you”!

[always1more 0]

Good evening to you suzukijax and goldstein....

Some nice advice appreciated

Yeah funny thing is last September a friend mentioned teaching at College that is another avenue to explore. At least you would be teaching in the warmth, crikey I can remember out on site working up ally ladders in the frost n snow trying to fit facia boards hands numb trying to nail the piece up.

Most of my work with the old fella and Uncle where new builds, so 1st and second fix is a doddle. done plenty of extensions to aswell as dormas. Be nice to be in the warmth and sociable hours.

Another good idea there from jax about getting some cards made up and the magnetic signs. There is only two places I know of in our Town that repair bikes one is the BMW dealer in Town and the other is a guy around 5 miles away who has a young lad working for him, I asked him last time I had new tyres fitted to my VFR he told me he can't afford to pay somebody a salary.

So maybe with there not being many garages around here that service and repair bikes there should be plenty of work here in my Town.

Thanks for the reply's and the pointers, taken onboard

Tim.

[Chas 0]

@always1more wrote:

Thanks for the reply's fella's

I'm not sure I'm reading Chas correct me if I'm wrong in that you say cutting 4x2" does not make me a joiner. I'm time served, I can fit kitchens, wardrobes, windows, staircases etc etc think I must have said joiner for the fun of it. I meant Carpenter

No, I said cutting a piece of 4x2 & building my own shed doesn't make ME a joiner. As a joiner/carpenter/chippy you will know the skill, expertise & years of practice you need to call upon to make a decent living from your chosen trade.

As a semi-skilled mechanic, I fully appreciate that being able to competently service & repair your own vehicles does not make you a mechanic, at least not one that can make a decent living at it.

Do you think there's better money to be made in spannerring? I know lots who tried & failed, only to later find success in something closely related.

An ex-miner mate lost his £40k redundancy in a service/repair garage yet now makes £40k+ a year fast fitting tyres & exhausts.

One of my riding mates makes £30k a year breaking brand new bikes !

I know lifelong garage mechanics who struggle to earn £20k, either their own business or employed.

Opportunities are out there & the skillset required isn't always as high as some might think.

[skrach86 0]

What about self employment? im just starting out and ive got loads of work, theres always folk out there want work doing imo. You just have to look for it. Im a joiner as well by the way, well a bench joiner, but have a fews yrs site experience on and off. Although i have no comitments, so i can do it, even though i make a half decent wage. If you want work best thing to do is get the yellow pages out, and local paper and ring every company you find in the industry you want to work in, i got laid of 3 1/2 yrs ago, and found work in two weeks. Literally ny ringing evryone, i got knocked back countless times, but in the end got somewhere. just a thought....

[always1more 0]

@ Chas...I knew I read it wrong sorry pal

Yeah I see where you coming from....I'd love to train up for it but there is nothing here, we have a cpl of colleges but they don't cater for Bike Mechanics.

The other thing like has been said before you start you need GCSE's under yer belt, something I don't have. Lifes a bitch...

@ skrach ello m8

Yeah I've thought about goin self-employed but the thing is m8 and the specialist has warned me not to be lifting...my spine is damaged down the bottom, I have disk 2-3 and 5 pushed out onto my spinal cord...in pain all the time but some days worse than others, legs pins and needles all the time down to my feet. So my worry is when I push to far I can be outa work for months until the pain eases. I've been in a wheel chair before today when I was really bad and don't want to go down there again. I'd be up the swanny if I get really bad again, no work no money.

This is whats making me having to make a difficult choice as like I said the joinery cripples me now unless I'm stood upright all day then that's not to bad, it's bending down for too long like on skirtings or laying floors. Gutted really cos my forte has gone to waste cos of damage to my spine.

This is why I mention the SIA license..at least if you go to concerts or games, stewarding you are not physically lifting anything and standing up is ok

I've got a lot to think about now

[jeffski 0]

i really hope you find something that meets the needs man,good skills like yours should not be wasted,teaching sounds a really viable bet to me,chin up bro,ride easy.