11/10/12

New spark for solicitor Martin Firmin as he quits law and plugs into career change

Martin Firmin, who ran his own practice in Rochester, retired as a solicitor, and has embarked on a career as an electrician

At the age of 63 after a lifetime career in law, solicitor Martin Firmin decided to retire.

It was not easy getting out of the law. But once it was sorted, Martin didn't head straight for the golf course to begin a life of leisure.

Instead, he embarked on a dramatic change of career - as an electrician.

"I used to work 14-hour days," he says. "I'd had enough of law. You can only do the same thing for so long and retain your interest.’"

But the grandfather of eight, who ran his own practice in Rochester, says although he had tired of his profession, he had no desire to stop working.

Martin, pictured left, explains: "I'm very active for my age. Why should life finish at 65? I see myself having an ongoing career for at least 10 years, maybe more."

"I've never been very practical but I've always wished I was. I wanted to do something that would be handy around the house. I used to avoid anything electrical like the plague but I thought it would be good to have the knowledge for myself and my family.

"I wanted to do something useful in my retirement that could pay well."

He decided to retrain with New Career Skills, which specialises in retraining people who change careers late in life for jobs as plumbers, electricians, as well as in renewables and microgeneration. Martin started his course in October, finished a few weeks ago, and has just completed a work experience placement.

He is now planning to set up his own electrical company and returning to New Career Skills to learn plumbing.

Martin adds: "I used to dream about being able to go home and relax and not have to think about other people's problems. That's the beauty of this job, especially if I work for a contractor."

He would encourage anyone thinking about a career change, however old they are, to go for it.

"I'd say 'do it'," he says. "I wish I'd done it 10 years ago. I did wonder if I'd left it too late when I started the course but being out on site I don't feel that way at all. I'm really excited about it."