What Apprentices Say

John Phillips started a six month apprenticeship with Silver Track in January. He said:
"I've always wanted to do something practical so when the apprenticeship for railway engineering came up I knew it was right for me. It's been really good learning a trade and has really increased my prospects for the future. I'm looking forward to completing the apprenticeship and progressing on to my next challenge."
Apprentice Tashanna Egbochue is the new events and administration apprentice to the Pearson Research Institute team and she couldn't be happier with her new role. Tashanna says:
"It is great so far, I've learnt so much already and I've had lots of opportunities. I left school at 16 and since then I've been used to working. I wanted to get an NVQ in Business Administration, but I didn't want to give up work and be in college full time. Through this apprenticeship, I'm able to work and get my qualifications."
Learner Natasha McDonald is a plumbing apprentice at Homes for Haringey, which manages and repairs the borough's council housing stock. She recently became National Learner of the Year at the 2010 VQ Awards. She said:
"The apprenticeship really helped me get my foot in the door. If I hadn't had this opportunity it would have been difficult for me to get my first job, especially as plumbing is a male dominated industry."