Hello everyone, we are the current Apprentices at Skills and Education Group and here is a blog written by us. In celebration of National Apprenticeship, week we wanted to bring light to apprenticeships and to talk about what they mean to us so let’s dive in.

Hey, I’m Zach. I am a multi-channel marketing apprentice at Skills and Education Group. I would like to start by saying that I love my apprenticeship. So why and what do others say and think?

Let’s begin by addressing some misconceptions. I spoke with the Association of Apprentices and various apprentices regarding the misconceptions they had encountered about apprenticeships, and their responses were:

I have heard all these assumptions at least once, and I assure you, none of them are true, as I have discovered myself. I think apprenticeships are really important because they give you hands-on experience and a qualification, while someone who went to university wouldn’t get real-life experience. Apprenticeships are great because they allow you to try new jobs and skills until you find one that fits right. They are hard because you are learning a whole job alongside a qualification, but it is so valuable for your career.

I wasn’t sure if marketing was the right path, and I didn’t quite know if that was what I really wanted do: my apprenticeship gave me the chance to try it while learning valuable skills and not getting into debt. When I first considered entering the workforce, I was filled with fear. I was concerned that I wouldn’t be able to be my authentic self. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the reality is far different. In my current role, I have the freedom to express myself openly while maintaining professionalism. My workplace has been incredibly supportive of my gender identity, something I never expected but am deeply grateful for.

Initially, I worried that being transgender would prevent me from being accepted in the workplace. But my experience has shown me how unfounded those concerns were. Rather than facing judgment, I’ve found a community that appreciates me for who I truly am. Not only am I gaining valuable hands-on experience, but I’m also acquiring new skills that will benefit me in the long run—all while staying true to myself.

One of the most rewarding aspects of my apprenticeship is the opportunity to incorporate my personal interests, like photography, into my work. It’s inspiring to see how my passion can enhance my professional development.

National Apprenticeship Week is such an amazing week because it gives us a chance to celebrate all of the opportunities apprenticeships give us. It is a week to teach others the alternatives to university.

Hi, my name is Joel, and I am an apprentice at Skills Education Group. Apprenticeships are incredibly important to me because they offer a hands-on learning experience that aligns perfectly with my preferences and goals. Unlike traditional classroom settings and lecture theatres, which I often find boring and less engaging, apprenticeships allow me to learn by doing. This practical approach keeps me motivated and helps me gain valuable real-world experience that I can immediately apply in my role.

While my counterparts are still in formal education, I already have a foot in the door of the working world, giving me a competitive edge. Apprenticeships also provide essential skills such as problem-solving, teamwork, and industry-specific knowledge while earning a qualification and a salary. For me, this blend of learning and working is the ideal way to kickstart my career and build a strong foundation for future success.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/zach-bennett-453a56316/

Hello Amber here! I’m an apprentice at Skills and Education Group, and I highly value apprenticeships. However, I don’t think they get the credit they deserve. For years, there’s been a stigma that apprenticeships are only for people who “couldn’t cut it” in college or university. And yes, maybe that’s true for some of us. But guess what? That’s not a bad thing.

I know this firsthand because I’m one of those people. I struggled with my English GCSE, not because I couldn’t read or write, but because I didn’t fit in the way they wanted me to. You’re expected to follow strict mark schemes and write in a set style that just didn’t work for me. I also hated written exams and the pressure of being judged on one stressful moment. Even in apprenticeships, there’s still written work and assessments, but the difference is that it’s applied to real-life situations rather than just memorising information for a test.

Now, in the workplace, writing feels different. I have a purpose for what I write, and I use AI to refine my work – something school never encouraged but is actually a valuable tool. Apprenticeships give people like me the chance to prove what we’re capable of by learning through experience instead of being boxed into a system that doesn’t suit everyone. They’re not an “easy way out”—they push you to grow, think for yourself, and take on real responsibility from day one.

Beyond qualifications, apprenticeships offer something just as valuable – early experience and financial stability. Unlike traditional education, where learning is mostly theoretical, I’m gaining real workplace experience while earning a wage. This has given me the chance to start managing my own money, whether it’s saving for my first car or helping out at home. It’s not always easy balancing work and learning, but it’s preparing me for the real world in ways that a classroom never could. Instead of worrying about how I’ll get experience later, I’m building it now – giving me a strong foundation for the future.

So, I want to break the stigma – apprenticeships aren’t a second choice, they’re a smart choice.