A boy would commence an apprenticeship around age 15, which lasted 7 years, and was equally binding on the apprentice and the tradesman with no 'dropping out' at all. Time served men were generally recognised as highly skilled in their field and capable of creating or fixing anything, With increasing technical reliance, the Navy only began a formal apprenticeship scheme in the early 1900s. They had no proper establishment and consequently used 3 or 4 old wooden dismasted warships moored together as one in Portsmouth harbour to house the boys and train them, collectively named HMS Fisgard.
This unsatisfactory 'base' was eventually recognised as unfit for purpose and all such training was transferred to Chatham around 1930 before finally being transferred to a purpose built hutted establishment with a workshop at Torpoint a few years later, also named HMS Fisgard.
I have never heard of any apprenticeship relating to helping in the home and can not imagine just what training might be relevant. That sounds more like a bit of mischief!
With regard to recruitment in the forces, as far as I am aware, all recruits were volunteers except for Naval Pressgang 'encouragement' and occasions when a Court offered the choice to a convicted man of Prison or enlistment in the Army or Navy. Only in the two world wars was compulsory conscription applied, plus of course, compulsory National Service for two years duration until 1959 or so for men of 18.
Hope this adds a little more for you.
Brian
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