What's happing to wannabies 2 two very sensible threads in the space of two weeks.
I would say Uni is not the way to go either but....
Before you go any further researching get your son down to Gatwick and get a class one medical. If you have a look at
The UK Civil Aviation Authority in the medical section it will give you all the details.
After that he really does have time in hand if he is still in school. He has 10 years to train and still be young in the industry.
The goal is to come out of training with as little loans as possible and hopefully a trade which will stand you in good stead if everything goes wrong. Which unfortunately is all to common these days even after you have got the first job.
Of the top of my head.
Sparky and Corgi gas fitters seem to be in very short supply The Gas fitter who just did my new boiler charged 3K for supplying and fitting, the boiler was £750 and he did 4 hours installing it. Now £500 quid per hour cash in hand seems a pretty good rate of pay to me.