My Apprenticeship Journey - Leon Daymond
Apprenticeships are more than just a bit of paper you acquire as you start off your career. They are a means to advance your career along at every stage and acquire the skills that will stand you in good stead for life.
Leon Daymond found this when he undertook a Business Administration apprenticeship tutored and supervised by the south-west specialist training experts, Swatpro.
“I was stuck in a rut in my old job that didn’t really have any career prospects, so I thought an apprenticeship would be a good step onto the career ladder for me and would give me qualifications as well as some on the job experience - which I wanted instead of a college course. I also wanted to be able to earn and learn at the same time,” says 22-year-old health service worker Leon.
The experience has led to him receiving a full-time job offer with Glendevon Medical Practice (which is part of the Teign Estuary Medical Group), with increased hours and responsibility in his role.
Asked why he liked an apprenticeship, as opposed to further or higher education course, he says: “I think that I had more personalised learning with my tutor as it was on a one-to-one basis and I didn’t feel the pressure of having to keep up with a class, everything was planned around my work and what I was currently doing within my job. I also enjoyed learning about things that I could directly put into practice within my working role.
“Although the apprenticeship wage is a bit difficult being low, I have really benefited from the training and now have gained a full-time role on a higher wage. Time was also hard as working within the NHS during Covid has been very challenging, but with the support of my employer and Swatpro we were able to complete the apprenticeship despite the hurdles.”
So, would Leon recommend the apprenticeship journey to others like him?
“I would highly recommend apprenticeships as a way of getting on to a particular career path in order to gain on the job experience as well as completing my learning. I feel I am better at my role and have the qualification to prove it,” he concludes. “I was stuck in a rut in my old job that didn’t really have any career prospects, so I thought an apprenticeship would be a good step onto the career ladder."
