I would say that education is a door to a multitude of opportunities, and qualifications really do count. Find something you love and keep going, you won’t regret it. Education really can change your life!

Since leaving LMC in 2016 I have gone on to complete my BA hons in Children, Schools & Families at The University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN). Alongside my degree I also worked in a private residential childrens home as a Senior Care Officer.

Business at Lancaster and Morecambe College was the best course to prepare me for the real world. I studied modules that educated me on every aspect of business including marketing, health and safety, management, entrepreneurship and lots more. As I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do after college, this was the perfect course which gave me lots of possible career paths after finishing.

During my time at LMC I have won 3 separate awards for being the “Apprentice of the Year”, one from LMC, one from APSE and also one from Lancaster City Council.

I hope to complete my Level 2 course at college and then start my Apprenticeship with BAE in September this year.

If you like to get your hands dirty and get stuck in then the Carpentry & Joinery Apprenticeship course would be a good choice, and you also get paid while you learn.

My tutor made the lessons fun. I really miss playing the game Taboo as it really helped me develop my vocabulary. I didn’t find the preparation for exams stressful as the content of the course was well organised, explained and delivered. I was given information about mock exams in plenty of time so I always knew what I was working towards and what I needed to improve on. My tutor always made time for me and provided many opportunities for extra revision.

The best things for me were meeting new friends and learning about cabin crew and the travel industry from behind the scenes. I also enjoyed completing the fire and smoke training with Thomas Cook.

I am thoroughly enjoying my time as a travel consultant, without Lancaster & Morecambe College I wouldn’t have had the confidence to reach out to different workplaces and be where I am today.

An apprenticeship gave me the opportunity to work and earn while I learn, fast-tracking my career. I knew it would provide me with knowledge and skills needed to progress. Being able to apply my theoretical knowledge gained from the course into real workplace situations has helped me perform better at work and progress faster. 

The course enabled me to work in a professional environment and really familiarise myself with the practical application of the skills we were learning. It was great being able to test my skills with location recordings and it showed me how I can fully utilise a space or piece of technology.

Do it, but don’t be half-hearted. The music courses aren’t doss courses for people to take when they’re undecided on what they want to do in life. They are there for people who have a passion for music and want to take up a job somewhere in the industry later in life, they will push you and stretch you in the ways that you need to have a chance of making a successful career.