A decade of delivering apprenticeships

07 February, 2024

Worsdale, who was the first female apprentice to win the overall AMRC Training Centre Apprentice of the Year award, said choosing an apprenticeship over an academic degree was an easy decision, adding: “The biggest reason for me was I didn’t want any debt, and an apprenticeship was the way to gain more experience to build my career while being able to earn a wage.

“There were some ups and downs, but it has all led me to where I am today. I wouldn’t be the person I am today without my apprenticeship.”

When asked what her proudest moment was during her apprenticeship, Worsdale said it was the satisfaction in knowing that she had contributed to the success of her employer.

“When I was 16, I came into an industry without knowing much about it, but I found ways to improve things every single time. I started with our health and safety standards – small things like ensuring the working environment was clean, and over time it led to massive changes,” said Leigh.

Reflecting upon her apprenticeship journey, Worsdale said: “I think everything happens for a reason and the AMRC Training Centre was one of the stepping stones that enabled me to network and meet new people, opening up doors to opportunities that I wouldn’t have had with a purely academic degree.”

Ben Siddall (27), is a Production Manager at C&S Fabrications in Sheffield and described his apprenticeship as a stepping stone in the right direction, adding: “An apprenticeship has given me the practical skills that I needed to progress in my workplace. It has been a long journey, but certainly a rewarding one.”

Siddall’s main highlight from his apprenticeship is utilising the skills he learnt at the AMRC Training Centre to support improvements at his workplace.

“I remember learning 3D CAD software during my apprenticeship and then bringing it back to my company,” he said, “It was something we never had before and probably would’ve never considered adopting otherwise.”

Having received a kickstart in their own careers, both are massive advocates of apprenticeships, encouraging young talent as well as employers to take a step towards it.

Siddall said: “We’re always keen to take on new apprentices and we’ve just taken on three. If we can give young talent the opportunity that I’ve had, I’d say we’re doing some good.”

Worsdale added that she likes how apprenticeships give younger talent the skills to not just help companies grow, but can be a benefit for the whole industry. She said: “We're always looking for apprentices and looking to bring in new talent to build not just their career, but their personalities as well.

“I’ve had so many opportunities come my way and received job offers from all around the world, which shows just how much opportunity there is out there for young people doing apprenticeships. There are opportunities at every corner. Invest everything you can into it and you can see the results yourself.”

For young talent already pursuing an apprenticeship, Siddall has a simple advice: “Work hard and don’t take it for granted. It’s years of your life that you’ll never get back. There are a lot of opportunities, so – go all in, try to take on as much as possible and say ‘yes’ to every opportunity.”

https://twitter.com/TheAMRC

https://www.linkedin.com/company/amrc/