I'm also looking into apprentiships and have been struggling just to get them to let apply.
Even though age shouldn't be a factor you always get told you to old, i was even told that directly by the dudes at the job centre.
Another thing is that i dont have good gcse's and for apprentiships they often have minimum requirement....a- c in maths, english, science normally but when i explain that my gcse's were done about 12-13 year ago and aren't really relavant they aren't even interested.
Its fucking annoying i tell thee.