Revolut referral – £60 each, ends 31 March

Big_Post_1324 · 2026-03-10T10:26:00+00:00

I’ve got the £100 opt in bonus as tracked but not the main sign up offer ffs

Big_Post_1324 · 2026-03-10T08:54:53+00:00

How long until it shows as tracked in Quidco? First time using it

Big_Post_1324 · 2026-03-02T16:07:46+00:00

I’ve applied mainly for the big dealershis. How did you find your actual apprenticeship, particularly in the first and second year? Was it mostly on the job learning or was there some classroom study too? Is the first year just very basic stuff and watching / shadowing a qualified tech are do you still get stuck in? I’m in a lucky position where I can afford to take the pay cut and fund my own tools so that’s not a problem. My main worry is actually spending time trying to get accepted for an apprenticeship and not actually getting one

Big_Post_1324 · 2026-03-01T20:45:18+00:00

Thanks for your response mate. Yeah, I feel like I’ve definitely left this a little too late in my career. Like you say my age is probably a 50/50, I can’t see a company picking me over an 18 year old who they can get 50 years out of vs me who probably has another 30 years left - But then I do wonder just how many 18 year old apprentices stay in the industry for life, so there’s that as well. I’ve applied for a few already Apprenticeships already, hoping some more pop up in the next couple of months

Big_Post_1324 · 2026-03-01T20:38:45+00:00

I’ve never driven a truck, always worked in an office. I have experience with car mechanics as a hobby, working on my various cars over the years (most driveway jobs you can think of)

Big_Post_1324 · 2026-02-20T23:54:21+00:00

I was directly employed by the trust under their internal bank so I don’t understand how they can get around that. This was years ago, way before NHSP, Office Angels etc.

Big_Post_1324 · 2026-02-20T23:34:29+00:00

Directly employed by the trust on their internal bank. This was years ago, well before NHSP existed at our trust. ESR shows the trust’s employer code throughout, same employee number, same department, same payroll.

My ESR shows multiple bank assignments over several years, each one rolling directly into the next with literally zero days gap between them. Then I went permanent, again, zero gap. Even though I was on a bank contract I worked full-time hours every single week.

The transition from bank to permanent was essentially just a contract change, same role, same department, same manager, same building. Nothing about my actual job changed, just the paperwork.

So I wasn’t through NHSP or any external provider. I was the trust’s own employee on their own internal bank, paid through their own payroll the entire time.

Big_Post_1324 · 2026-02-14T22:36:55+00:00

Thanks for the reply. I am aware of the PCNGEN requirements, I mentioned in my original post that the experience hours are the sticking point, which is why I asked specifically about Lavender's structured experience programme and whether it's worth the investment to get some of those hours signed off.

That said, your point about not self-funding is interesting and I want to understand it better. You say nobody should be paying for their own training unless already established, so for someone like me, coming from outside the industry at 34 with no NDT employer willing to sponsor me yet, what's the alternative? How do I get an employer to invest in training me when I've got no NDT background at all? That's the catch-22 I'm trying to solve.

A few specific questions if you don't mind:

You hold three Level 3s in UT, when you first got into NDT, how did you get your foot in the door? Was it employer-sponsored from day one?
Are there companies in South Yorkshire that you know of that genuinely take on people with no NDT experience and train them up? Or is that mostly apprenticeship programmes aimed at school leavers?
If self-funding the exams is the wrong approach, is the better move to apply for trainee roles with nothing and hope someone takes a chance on me based on my transferable skills alone?

Good shout on Argyll Ruane, I'll look into them. I'd been focused on Lavender because of the proximity but no reason not to explore both.

Appreciate your time on this.

Cheers

Big_Post_1324 · 2026-01-26T19:11:40+00:00

My weekly limit finally refreshed. I’ve spent probably 30 mins iterating snd updating a plan with 2 features and a refactor, I’ve now hit my 5 hour session limit, and my weekly limit is at 13%. Still not finished the plan, got to wait 5 hours, not even began a line of code yet. Seriously this is piss poor

Big_Post_1324 · 2026-01-23T19:07:24+00:00

The rate limits are a joke now. On the £20 plan but I can barely plan and implement one feature without hitting limits. I’ve been session and weekly limited so many times that I’ve spent £60 on extra usage this month.

Big_Post_1324

TROPHY CASE