Learning a trade can equip you with the skill to earn a living for the rest of your life. You will have to keep abreast of developing technologies, but the core components of your job will never change so rapidly as to put you out of work.

If the idea of a sedentary desk job is your worst nightmare, learning a trade might suit you. As a plumber or electrician much of your work will be done in your clients’ houses, offices or other locations. Even if you decide to operate from an office of your own you will remain mobile.

The role is customer-facing and therefore highly social; you will need an outgoing, friendly personality and the ability to communicate what you are doing in a simplistic way to your customers in order to reassure them.

Although wages are low in the beginning, and apprentices often have to provide their own (costly) equipment, skilled tradesmen are in high demand and can earn salaries of up to £70,000 depending on the nature of the contracts they secure.

If you want to work a hands-on job with guaranteed security, a trade might be the perfect career path for you.