Jenni

I think being 20, and being treated like an adult since I left high school on my courses, and with my retail job, might have give me that experience if this doesn't, so it's the hardware bit I need, so that's good to hear. I am aiming more to go into hardware rather than customer support via telephone.

Well it said on the other website: The training provided by QA is fully funded by the government for 16-18 year olds, and partially funded for 19-24 year olds. So I figured I would be allowed on it... oh well, I enquired anyway!

I didn't want to start a new thread, and I couldn't see an edit button, but I found this, and since many people have now told me I can actually apply for an apprenticeship I have been searching and found this one: Microsoft – Hardware & Networking Programme - QA Advanced Apprenticeships There is one in my local area, what do you guys think?

@mgarland wow congrats, I'm glad that you are in a stable job now! It's not so much about my age but about my qualifications, but I'm sure it was you who said you had a friend who studied at degree level--so it's possible for me to get one, which is exciting news! @GREED I finished a Foundation Degree which is obviously level 5, I also have done a BTEC National Diploma and have key skills City & Guild level 2 in ICT & Application of Number as well as level 3 in communication. Thank you for your help! It's nice to know that some employees will look past what level I am and take me on! @aerospacemango & @MatthewL I am from Staffordshire, West Midlands.

Well don't worry, I live in the West Midlands so it's not expensive at all! Haha! @nephilim I'd love a copy of those slides! Study time for me ;D @mgarland It says in my OP that I am 20, and I was told this by the apprenticeship spokesperson at a college, and then my Next Step advisor told me it's possible to get an apprenticeship, although it's a lot harder because they may go for someone younger with less experience first. Though I may apply to one, since it will help. Also I am considering asking around computer repair shops near where I live--there's one about 5 minutes away but it's family run business! ;/ Once again thank you for all the help and replies, I did NOT expect two pages! Reading the replies have given me some great ideas!

wow guys, thanks for all the replies! I will definitely take on board all of your advice, sounds like you are all telling me to go for it; but I understand about how it would be hard to go into a primary school if there's only one person behind the scenes, I mean it doesn't have to happen straight away, I can get experience somewhere else, or maybe I will like it in a different environment! I'll start asking around for people willing to take on trainees, or volunteers, as I don't think I'm anywhere near experienced as someone who has studied IT. When next year rolls around I may enrol onto a college course and study IT, and the college I was looking at even has a Microsoft Academy, so it seems good. Also a thing about the apprenticeships is I actually can't start one; well I was told I can't by one woman, and another said I can but it's extremely hard, because I have already studied way past the level of apprenticeships, the only thing I can do is volunteer or just start a job unfortunately.

I'm sorry if this is in the wrong forum/thread, but I thought general sort of covered everything. Okay here I go. So I'm 20 years old, I have completed a BTEC National Diploma in Interactive Media (and gained a C&G Key Skills 2 in ICT), and then I went onto to do a Foundation Degree (same as a HND) in Contemporary Art Practice; so as you can tell, I steered down the art path. It took me moving out down to university last month to realise I didn't want to go down this route any more, and that I wanted to do something in which I was good at; IT. Now, preferably I'd like to be a primary school IT technician, and I was just wondering how I would start this? Is it best to go back to college level and study, or volunteer at schools, or just go for it and apply everywhere? What would you people recommend? Thanks! Also editing to say, obviously being my age, and already having studied to a high level, I'd have to now pay all of my course fees.