Apprenticeships - You Can Go To Hull!

Well, that Headline may have grabbed your attention and may even have turned your head - that's what headlines are for! But when that happens at the beginning of your career the story may not unfold quite as you'd wish! Another of our great ambassadors, Richard Sawyer, shares his story of how NOT doing an apprenticeship is a big regret in his career! He's doing alright, and we're mightily proud to have him in the team, but I'm sure his story will resonate with many.

I started my working career, aged 15, whilst still at school. It was at a local Newspaper company moving stacks of the daily news off the printing press. Once my GCSE results came in my then boss told me that I was wasting my life with them and needed to aim higher.

So, with his words like a headline in my mind, I went for an interview, for an apprenticeship position at an Engineering company - and I was successfully chosen.

BUT - I turned down the position in favour of a promotion in the Newspaper. The money was better. And I wouldn’t need to do any school work.

Fast forward 27 years and I seem to have fallen from job to job and frankly, have been quite lucky. The way my life has turned out I do not have any complaints. Except maybe one - NOT doing that apprenticeship.

One company I worked for went bust, my own company didn’t survive the 2008 financial crisis, another company treated me like a robot. In all these circumstances it was time to update my CV and put myself out there on the job hunt.

Filling out my intro, Experiences, Past Employment, etc., was no issue. Qualifications on the other hand… Well there was the issue, I have 6 GCSEs graded A to C and that’s it. I have interviewed many times over during my working years and have only successfully gained employment from this process once and I can't help thinking that was partly because I rejected the aforementioned apprenticeship position.

Hindsight is truly quite cruel. I abandoned my A levels for quick, easy money, I rejected an apprenticeship for quick, easy money.

If I could go back I would have a stern word with myself. Take the job, do the apprenticeship, gain qualifications, it will offer further opportunities later in life. Also don’t go to Hull for New Years Eve 2001, but that’s a different story.

We won't ask, Richard, what that New Year in Hull was like, we'll use our imagination! (btw the headline is a play on words - we're sure Hull is a nice place). Richard joined us as an ambassador after hearing our slot on Motor Trade Radio Podcast - so, if you'd like to get involved in the [M]enable Movement, get in touch at [email protected]