Every year, thousands of learners and training providers join the celebration of Adult Learners’ Week, Wales’ biggest festival of adult learning. The campaign aims to promote Welsh Government’s vision to establish Wales as a “Second Chance Nation” for lifelong learning.

Educ8 Training Group, an award-winning further education provider, invited three learners to share their success stories as adult learners during Adult Learners’ Week which is taking place between 18^th – 24^th September in 2023.

Apprenticeship helped me make a bold career move

Sophie Evans, a Level 3 Hairdressing apprentice, tells us why she decided to take a leap of faith and dive into a career she truly loves.

“It was very weird going from being a manager in my previous role, to starting again as an apprentice. I didn’t mind it because I felt excited to do something that I was passionate about. I was interested in hair; I wasn’t interested in anything else.

“Doing an apprenticeship later on in life can be scary. You’ve got rent and bills to think about. But with the support I’ve had from my manager, my partner, and Liz my trainer coach, I know I made the right decision.” says Sophie.

ILM apprenticeship provided a boost in my career progression

Nathan Doe, a Senior Timetable Production Manager for Transport for Wales, shares how the ILM apprenticeship helped him build a career without a university degree.

“I came straight out of school and into a job. A lot of people went to university to get a degree, so not having one myself was a worry. The ILM Level 5 is equivalent to a foundation degree, which would be two years at university, and I’ve done it without spending a penny – earning more than I would’ve paid for.

“The course is orientated around your job. Each person who does an apprenticeship will get something different out of it. The beauty of it is funding. I was able to buy my first house at the age of 20. I made a career for myself.”

Learning new skills gave me the confidence to go back to work

Level 2 Beauty Therapy apprentice, Alice Evans, shares how her learning enabled her to return to the job market  after becoming a new mother.

“My new employer was really encouraging. She gave me the boost I needed to study Level 2 Beauty Therapy and it’s the best thing I’ve ever done. My job is part-time and my employer is flexible; working around me and looking after my 16-month-old baby girl, Amelia.  The course is not intense, and you know what to do – it’s really well organised. You have an online module on Moodle and everything else takes place in the salon. All practical and done during work hours.

Adult Learner’s Week highlights the remarkable journeys of our adult learners and the life-changing opportunities education can provide. Educ8 Training Group is committed to supporting these learners in their pursuit of new careers and enhanced skills. This week reaffirms that age is no barrier to achieving professional and personal goals.

To find out more about Adult Learners’ Week and Educ8 Training Group, visit: https://www.educ8training.co.uk/

Rising university tuition fees and living costs have made more school leavers consider apprenticeships. In 2023, a remarkable 430,000 students expressed their interest in apprenticeship opportunities via UCAS—a staggering 180% increase since 2021.

Susan Billington, National Account Manager at Educ8 Training Group, shares insights on the changing landscape of further education for school leavers.

“An average student debt for tuition fees alone is £27,750 for a three-year degree. Cost consideration is a big part of decision-making for school leavers and their parents and the shift is more apparent with rising inflation and living costs.”

She continues, “Apprenticeships offer fantastic career opportunities allowing learners to earn while they learn. Learners can avoid accumulating massive debt while at the same time equipping themselves with practical skills and industry connections.”

An impressive 91% of apprentices go on to secure employment or further their studies after completing their training.

“There is not enough awareness about apprenticeships to young people leaving school. My apprenticeship has helped my confidence so much already. My advice to young people would be – if you want to earn a wage while learning, an apprenticeship may be what you need. I would recommend more young people leaving school to consider an apprenticeship.” Says Eleri Page who is a Social Media for Business Apprentice with Educ8 Training Group.

As salary growth lags behind inflation and the cost of living rises, many employees are opting to enhance their skills via apprenticeships, which paves the way for improved career prospects.

“I joined Educ8 Training Group as an Account Manager almost seven years ago. Since then, I’ve successfully completed three apprenticeships. These qualifications not only equipped me with the essential skills for advancing in my career, but also provided a significant boost to my confidence.” Susan commented.

And Mitchell Hughes, an Advice and Guidance apprentice notes: “When I started the apprenticeship, I already worked for Mind as a Homelessness Intervention Project Worker. I’d only been in post for a short time with little experience in the housing sector. The apprenticeship was offered to me to gain an understanding of dealing with clients and increase my skills. As the modules were linked to my work, I soon started to use my new skills in my job. Straight away I noticed how much my skills had improved. I felt more comfortable with clients when using the structured approaches I’d learnt from the apprenticeship.”

The surge in demand for apprenticeships in specific fields, including digital marketing and leadership management, such as the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM), is evidence that both employers and employees are capitalising on apprenticeships to improve performance, retain staff and reduce recruitment costs.