This week is National Apprenticeship Week here in the UK (7-11th February) and I always enjoy this opportunity to shine a light on the amazing work being done by employers and apprentices across the country.
As part of these celebrations, we are sharing the inspiring stories of some of our own Pearson employee apprentices – over 300 of whom have worked and studied with us since the programme launched in 2017.
Name: Imani
Age: 19
Location: London
Current role: Communications Assistant at Pearson College London
Apprenticeship: Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship
Why did you apply for the Apprenticeship at Pearson?
During my A-levels, I began to have second thoughts about traditional education. Growing up in a family business, and getting my first job at 16, opened my eyes to the working world which made me realise I work best in a practical learning environment. I applied to a few apprenticeships, but Pearson’s stood out to me the most as the role was based in a field I was particularly interested in. Working in a FTSE 100 company also seemed like a great opportunity to kickstart my career.
How have you found it so far?
I started the apprenticeship with Pearson College London in September 2020, this was during the height of the pandemic, so I didn’t know what to expect. I’m now in the second year of the apprenticeship and I’m glad that I took this route. My work has presented me with countless opportunities to step out of my comfort zone and develop, while the degree has helped me put theory into practice and understand the industry better.
What are your ambitions for the future?
I always struggle to answer this question as I’m constantly changing my mind about the future. However, the apprenticeship has definitely made me realise that I'd like to continue working in Communications. Luckily, my role allows me to work around different parts of communications such as social media, blog writing and PR, so this is helpful in deciding what I would like to pursue later on!
Anne Ashworth is head of employee apprenticeships at Pearson and interviewed Imani for this story.