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Apprenticeships Are Not Just for School Leavers
- Anaïs Hegarty
- Jan 12
- 2 min read
One of the biggest myths I have heard surrounding apprenticeships is that they’re only suitable for young people at the very start of their careers.
When in reality, apprenticeships are suitable for people at all career stages, from new starters to experienced employees looking to progress, gain confidence, or develop their skills.
Understanding this is key to apprentice success.
Apprenticeships are built around real job roles
Apprenticeships aren’t about starting from scratch.
They’re designed to develop skills within real job roles, which means learning adds value from day one. Apprentices apply what they learn directly in their day-to-day work.
This makes apprenticeships even more effective for experienced employees who want structured development without stepping away from their day-to-day.
Why experience supports apprentice success
Being experienced isn’t a barrier to apprenticeship success as people may think; it’s often an advantage.
Experienced apprentices bring:
Confidence in the workplace
Understanding of their role and responsibilities
Clearer goals for progression
With the right support and structure, experience accelerates learning rather than holding it back.
Apprenticeships support progression, not just recruitment
Apprenticeships are often associated with recruiting new and young staff.
But many organisations use them to:
Upskill existing employees
Support career progression
Improve retention
Build leadership capability
For individuals, this creates clear development pathways. For employers, it develops staff who are already loyal and knowledgeable about the organisation.
What actually drives apprentice success
Apprentice success isn’t about age or career stage.
It’s driven by:
Structured learning that fits around work
Relevant, role-based development
Consistent support
Clear progression
When apprenticeships are designed around the individual and their role, success becomes achievable at any stage of a career.
Apprenticeships aren’t just a starting point; they’re a progression and development tool.
With the right structure and support, they help people grow, boost confidence, and excel in their careers.
Talk to our experts
To find out about our apprenticeships, or how we work with you to ensure our training meets the needs of your business, give us a call.
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