We put our first apprentice through the local tech college course. It was o.k. for basic mechanics and he finished the whole four year course in two years with a 98% pass.[It may have been 95%, can't remember
]
We decided that it wasn't really indepth enough for the work we do so now our apprentices attend the National Motorsport Academy at Silverstone. Due to the distance factor, commuting isn't a possibility so they attend in four week block periods. We are the only company in Cornwall who has ever had apprentices accepted for this course.
Ultimately there is only one way to learn, properly. You can pick up tips or bits from forums and mates but it's not always correct. I have seen many
mods done by enthusiastic amateurs and some of them are the basis of horror stories and downright dangerous. They probably cost more to rectify than it would have cost to have the job done properly in the first place.
Before i get blasted here by everyone who thinks their
mods are brilliant, obviously there are some very competent home mechanics. Percentage wise though i would guess there's more who really haven't a clue how bad their work really is, than those who have done a very good, safe and reliable upgrade.
Why don't you search for a local garage who are into motorsport/rally etc and try to get either an apprenticeship with them or as a starter, a Saturday job. It works, both of our apprentices started as Saturday lads, one came to us for work experience prior to that.
We have also had plenty of work experience lads who wouldn't get that offer. We had one work experience lad who was as keen as mustard and i offered him a Saturday job when he turned 16. For the first few weeks his enthusiasm was good then it dropped off and he ended up without his chance.
If you get offered something, grab it with both hands and see how it goes from there.
Good luck in what you try.