My Life: Paul Stevens

Paul Stevens may not look like your average apprentice. He hasn’t just left school, he isn’t a teenager and he isn’t starting out on his first career.

Paul Stevens, is a 51-year-old father of two who has been working for more than 30 years.

But when he found himself made redundant in 2008 from the MFI warehouse job he had held for 23 years he was at a loss.

“After 23 years I suddenly found myself thrown on the dole for six months and I just couldn’t bear having nothing to do,” says Paul from Calverley, Leeds.

“But I just didn’t know what to do. Then someone suggested I should become an apprentice. My first reaction was ‘not at my age, I’d have no chance’. Like most people I thought apprentices were school leavers or teenagers, not men in their 50s.

“But after being in work for so long I really didn’t like being on the dole so I decided to do something about it. I went to Leeds Building College and enrolled onto a joinery course as I was really keen to learn new skills that might help me find another job or give me a trade so that one day I could think about setting up on my own.”

After gaining his level 1 and 2 qualification Paul was unable to do his level three without having employment.

“ I left college and started doing some joinery work for Canopy, a homeless organisation which renovates old and derelict houses,” he explained.

“It was whilst I was doing this that I first came into contact with Keepmoat. I spoke to someone from the South Yorkshire company who told me they were looking for apprentices and wanted to know if it was something I was interested in.

“It sounded like a good opportunity for me and when I mentioned that I’d already gained some relevant qualifications at college I was asked to come on board and join as an apprentice.

“I couldn’t really believe it as I thought at my age I would have no chance against younger people, but they assured me age made no difference.

“As well as this, I was also told that I would be put through level 3 of my course as part of the apprenticeship which I was very pleased about as I knew this would give me the chance to learn even more.”

Paul has been an apprentice since September 2012 and thinks the experience will prove to be a good springboard, giving him the confidence and  skills he needs to eventually gain something more long term within the building industry.

At 51, Paul is adamant that age should not matter when it comes to pursuing a new career path.

“There’s still a perception that this is something for younger people.

“After being in my previous job for so long it was obviously a bit of a shock for me to then have to look for work again and re-train in a different area and there were time at college where it was tricky – I was more the age of the tutors than the other students.

“Younger people have different priorities, but once I got to know them we all got on really well. Now sometimes when people come on site they think I’m the boss rather than the apprentice.

“But I believe I am proof that if you have the motivation to do something and you really want to make a change, then there is the help out there to enable you to do it – even if you are that little bit older.”

Time to celebrate apprenticeships

National Apprenticeship Week is co-ordinated by the National Apprenticeship Service and is designed to celebrate apprenticeships and the positive impact they have on individuals and businesses.

Now in its sixth year, National Apprenticeship Week is the time when all eyes are on apprenticeships and it’s all about raising the profile among employers, individuals, teachers, parents and the media.