Katie completed GCSEs at Matthew Arnold School before starting her Level 3 Electrical Apprenticeship with Darke & Taylor in August 2017. 

Why did you choose to do an Apprenticeship?

I chose to do an Apprenticeship because I didn’t particularly enjoy school and being a student sat in a classroom everyday learning about things I wasn’t interested in or passionate about.

How did you find out about your Apprenticeship?

My brother did an Apprenticeship as well as other members of my family so I always knew it was an option. Once I knew it was an option I researched into it more on the government website and found out all the different routes I could go down.

What have you gained from your Apprenticeship?

So far I have gained many things from my Apprenticeship. These include social skills, confidence, maturity, and most of all I have gained independence.

What do you plan to do next?

Once I have completed my Apprenticeship I plan to continue training in different areas of my career to expand my knowledge and skills.

How will your Apprenticeship help you achieve this?

My Apprenticeship will help me reach my goals as it gives me a really good start into the construction industry and helps me gain relationships with the company I am employed by. It also gives me the confidence to know I can go out and achieve whatever I put my mind to.

What advice would you give a young person who might be thinking about an Apprenticeship?

If you don’t enjoy school and want to do something more practical and specific to the career you want to pursue then you should go for it! Never let anyone tell you what you can and can’t do because an Apprenticeship makes almost anything possible. You don’t have to be smart to pursue an Apprenticeship, but you also don’t have to be failing exams and it be your only option. 

Apprenticeships are a choice but they are a great one. If you’re passionate about what you want to do you’ll have no problem learning about it as it’s something you actually enjoy.

What advice would you give an employer who's thinking about employing an Apprentice?

If you are considering employing an Apprentice you need to consider many things. However if you have the work to give them and are happy to take time to teach them you should 100% go for it. Not only will you be able to watch your Apprentice develop skills on their journey, you can condition them to benefit your company too. You will gain a skilled employee at the end of it who you know you can trust and who you personally trained. They are a great asset to any company.

How do you feel about becoming an Apprenticeship Ambassador?

I am very passionate about becoming an Apprenticeship Ambassador as it gives me the opportunity to spread the word about Apprenticeships and the benefits and futures that they can create. I never actually considered an Apprenticeship until year 11 as I was always told I was good enough for university and that’s what everyone else was doing. However, I chose to break away from the pack and do my own thing and I have gained so many benefits from this. I may have lost a few people along the way but I have stronger friendships with people on the same journey as me and I am always proud of everything I do. It’s about the journey as well as the destination.