WenWe
As background to anyone outside of the UK; when I started in the industry 20+ years ago with a BigAirline, the majority of people came from airline/MRO appenticeships or the services.
20+ or 30+?
There is an element of chicken/egg with training. Those of us fortunate to have accomplished 4 year apprenticeships (I did mine with AEL/MAEL in the 70s/80s) were, in effect, paid to train. Things have changed: I was talking to a graduate from Kingston University last month. He was 29, had a degree in aviation maintenance and a basic Part 66. No company or agency would employ him; no experience.