Changing career - advice

The great thing about Web is there isn't anything stopping you from getting the experience. It isn't like film or photography where you need cameras and equipment before you can build up a portfolio... if you've got a computer and a text editor as basic as notepad you're good to go.
So why not start out freelance?

I'm sure there won't be a shortage of people and companies around Manchester looking for cheap website. Do some free jobs for family and friends to start building up a portfolio for yourself then take out an ad local newsletters or papers - look in local newsletters and papers, find businesses without a web presence or with a terrible site and get in touch with them.
Explain you're offering local businesses a reduced rate, show them your portfolio and hopefully a few will bite...

Hopefully after a few months you'll have a decent portfolio and enough experience to take a solid portfolio to a potential employer - and maybe have also gotten yourself established in your local area as a freelancer as well.