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Starting your career can be both challenging and exhilarating. My journey began with a Level 4 Marketing Apprenticeship at Kaplan, which provided a springboard to a Level 6 UX Degree Apprenticeship with National Highways. In this blog, I’ll share my journey, the obstacles I faced, and the lessons I learned along the way. For those still in school, college, university, or searching for their f
I am returning to my final year of studying my undergraduate law degree at University of Bradford after recently completing my placement year with the Government Legal Department. It has been the best employability experience till date! The school years At 15 or 16, you are not expected to have your life sorted out. Enjoy the journey and keep learning. Do not limit your learning. Expose
Starting and running a business is often portrayed as a path paved with creativity, freedom, and the thrill of building something from the ground up. However, the reality is far more complex and glosses over the hardships, sacrifices, and resilience required to navigate the rocky road of entrepreneurship. My journey to becoming a founder and owner of Support Connect—a thriving company dedicated to
Everyone's journey in life is different, marked by unique challenges and experiences that shape us into who we are today. Mine began as a young carer, navigating the complexities of responsibility and balancing multiple roles even before my teenage years. This experience taught me valuable life lessons, shaping my character, resilience, and work ethic. Today, as an apprentice, I have found not onl
Growing up with dyslexia was no picnic. It was always a struggle at school—words seemed to do a little jig on the page, and numbers would not fall into line with each other for anything. The way traditional education is set up did not work for me, so very quickly, I felt behind. Instead of letting it define me, I decided to allow it to drive me. In this way, I turned the early adversities into opp
Growing up with dyslexia wasn't easy. School was often a frustrating experience for me. I struggled with reading, writing and spelling, which made traditional learning environments incredibly challenging. I often felt like I couldn't keep up with my peers, and my confidence took a hit. The thought of spending another three or four- years in a similar environment at university filled me with dread.
Navigating from education into employment can seem daunting, challenging and confusing, especially if you are keen to continue your studies but unsure what direction to take. I hope that this blog will provide some insight into my journey as I transitioned from Sixth Form into an apprenticeship, into a permanent role. After applying to University during Sixth Form as the majority of my peers were,
I'm a Senior Policy Advisor in the UK Government today, and this is a deep dive into how it all began. Starting a career is quite a challenge and there is hardly anybody who didn't get off to a rocky start! I do vividly remember the sharp pit in my stomach as I left university a few years ago without a clue about what would become of me. I knew I had to get a job, as soon as I possibly could, but
A career in digital marketing is not easy. Neither is being a business owner… But, I like a challenge, so I decided to become a digital marketing agency owner. The journey Upon finishing high school, I decided I wanted to go to university, not to study something that had a specific career path outlined once I’d finished my degree, but to study what I was interested in at the time. I loved reading,
I started my career following college, through a Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship; Digital and Technology Solutions, Specialising in Software Engineering. My provider was Manchester Metropolitan University. I completed and graduated from my apprenticeship in 2022, and now work as a User Experience Designer & Researcher at OneFile. When I was in college, I was studying Computer Science, Product De
Starting a career can be daunting, especially when you’re just stepping out of school or university. My journey from China to the Netherlands, then to the UK for studies and work, and finally into entrepreneurship, has been filled with unexpected turns and valuable lessons. My journey wasn’t planned, but I don’t regret seizing the opportunities that came my way. By trying different things, I learn
My journey into engineering was not a straightforward one. As the Volunteer Association of Apprentices Council Chair and an IET volunteer, I am now on a unique path that is providing me with a wealth of experiences that I am eager to share with young people, especially in the fields of science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) and apprenticeships. My academic journey at the c
Over the last few years, I've been focusing on comparing myself to where I was previously, rather than to other people. When I compare myself now to where I was at school, it's amazing to think that I'm somewhere that I didn't think I could end up. That somewhere is the world of software development. When I was figuring out my Key Stage 4 options in year 9, I nearly did NCFE Craft, but it was very
My journey from student to apprentice to apprentice & beyond starts further back than most. I always had something telling me that I wouldn’t go to university full time. At the time I had no idea what it was, and truth be told I’m not fully sure why now. Whatever it is, I’m glad it did tell me and I’m grateful I listened. The best place to start is when I was 13 year old. Young Sam Preston, a
I am currently a Senior Strategy Advisor, Public Speaker, and self-declared Apprenticeship Advocate! I started my apprenticeship scheme at 18 years old, and it was life changing. This experience has fuelled my passion for advocating for similar opportunities for all young people. In this piece, I will share my experiences as a young person navigating a complicated education landscape and how, even
