‘It was either now or never’: Local dad builds new future through apprenticeship
As part of National Apprenticeship Week, the national spotlight is on how apprenticeships are opening doors for people of all ages. With the government also introducing reforms to create more opportunities, improve flexibility and better meet employer and learner needs, apprenticeships are increasingly becoming a viable option for adults looking to retrain, upskill or change career.
Apprenticeships aren’t just for school leavers. Across The Bedford College Group, adult learners are proving that it’s never too late to learn and that studying can fit around family and real-life commitments.
The Bedford College Group offers apprenticeships in these industries: Business Services, Finance, Management, Childcare & Teaching, Hairdressing, Motorsport, Construction Trades, Hospitality, Motor Vehicle, Digital, Human Resources, Plumbing & Gas, Electrical, Land-Based, Sales, Engineering and Logistics.
An apprenticeship combines real work with industry-standard training and study, preparing learners to enter a recognised occupation while earning a wage. With flexible learning, employer-led training and tailored support, adult apprentices are helped to balance learning alongside their existing responsibilities.
One example is Stephen Pack, a single dad who studied at Tresham College, Corby.
Stephen explains: “I was made redundant and managed to get a redundancy package. This gave me the push and I thought it was either now or never, so I applied and spoke to the staff at Tresham College. There’s a good reputation here, and when I spoke to Paul about the course, I felt comfortable, even though I’d had a big gap in education and, with dyslexia, even more challenges to overcome. I wanted a complete career change into mechatronics maintenance – covering both mechanical and electrical maintenance, to keep machines running, hydraulics, pneumatics and programming, and I’ve learnt so much on the course so far.
“I’m a single Dad with three children at home, aged 12, 10 and 8. I started in 2021, and I’m now in my fourth year, aged 31. Balancing the apprenticeship with the children is a juggling act, but I’m lucky to have good family support. This career change isn’t just for me; it’s about building a better long-term future for my family.
“I’m completing my apprenticeship with Tayto as my employer, alongside my studies at Tresham. Coming back to education was a shock at first, but there are other mature students here, and the younger apprentices see me as a big brother. I help them out where I can, and I’ve made good friends even though they’re younger.
“Tayto have been flexible with childcare, whether it’s appointments or emergency time off for hospital visits, so even as an apprentice I still have that support.
“Winning Apprentice of the Year at the Northants Business Excellence Awards was a huge shock, I never thought I’d even be nominated, let alone win. It meant a lot to be recognised for overcoming challenges and managing family life alongside my apprenticeship.
“I’d say to any adult considering an apprenticeship: go for it. It’s never too late to learn, and the time goes faster than you think. I’m hoping Tayto can offer me a full-time role in the future, and I want to do my HNC after the apprenticeship ends in the summer. The staff at Tresham Corby have been amazing and I can’t fault them. I’m Corby born and bred, so it feels right to build my career locally.”
Nic Platt, Group Learning & Development Business Partner added: “We are so proud of all of our apprentices across all of our sites, in particular the engineering programme at Corby, which continues to go from strength to strength. Through our partnership with Tresham College we have been able to offer a variety of apprenticeships for all ages of individuals who want to develop their career. I am so excited to see Stephen’s progression, he has worked so hard and I have no doubt he will make a truly excellent engineer at the end of his apprenticeship.”
If you’re thinking about starting an apprenticeship, whether you’re returning to learning or looking for a fresh start, find out more about studying an apprenticeship with the Bedford College Group at: https://bedfordcollegegroup.ac.uk/study/apprenticeships/