If i remember, opposite the Donair place (not the BMI side) , There is a small place where a air ambulance is kept and a few little planes
Maintenance companies which you may get some work experience at EMA include DHL Aviation, Thomson, Thomas Cook, Jet2, Apple Aviation, Atlantic Airlines Cargo (maybe), BCT. However I know these companies will not offer you a maintenance job in your situation (sorry to let the truth out, if you did not this already)
Contact the training departments. I think Thomsons' is based at Luton, DHL @ EMA, Jet2 @ leeds bradford as I think Apple maybe, Thomas Cook is based at Manchester. Hope this makes contacting the relevant places easier.
Yeah I imagine there will be a lot of people around that part of the world out of work from BMI so Jobs even harder to come by due to the abundance of spare people.
Have you considered Rolls-Royce Derby, that isnt too far from EMA
For the meantime keep practicing your hand-skills and tool-work on anything you can. It always helps if you can use a spanner properly when you get opportunity somewhere.
Keep trying, Perseverance is key, If you want it you will get it... eventually. Try not to let people convince you to pay to go on some course that wont get you any closer to a job. I know a few people who done a HNC or National Diploma which gave them more info to finding apprenticeships.
All The best