Aviatordom,
I am also a product of an apprenticeship - mine was with RR engine's but now work for an airline in Hong Kong. Southend Airport has some smaller businesses there that might offer a limited number of apprentice spaces, or consider going with larger companies - BA, KLM Uk, RR, Marshalls (Cambridge), SR Technics (Stansted), etc - another option of course is the RAF, thoguh you have to put up with short hair-cuts and a lot of shouting.
And as other posters have said - search PPrune for 'apprenticeships' - and remember Google is your friend too...
Good Luck,
N1 Vibes