I left school in 1995 with more suspensions on my record than qualifications. This put me off formal education until the age of 45. My fear of learning was so embedded, I never even got my driving license.
So when an email arrived at work advertising the Data Literacy apprenticeship in partnership with my employer, Direct Line Group and Multiverse, I promptly ignored it. To my mind, an apprenticeship would be aimed at people born in a different millennium to me, and it could mean more of that classroom humiliation that I was in no hurry to volunteer for.
Data analysis had always been something that interested me
But data analysis had always been something that interested me, and I had taken on projects at work that meant sifting through piles of information and I was good at it. I mentioned this to my manager in passing, who politely told me that being scared of learning was not going to help me in any way and that apprenticeships are not just for younger people.
So, determined to do things differently this time, I applied for the apprenticeship. I had nothing to lose by giving it a go and made sure that I could drop out without penalty if it didn’t turn out like I wanted it to. When the email came through that I had been accepted onto the apprenticeship, it scared me more than the application form.
The apprenticeship runs at your own pace
It’s very clear from the outset that the apprenticeship runs at your own pace, and you can go over things after the sessions if you need. What also helps me is being able to use my new skills at work. I can see that there is actually a point to what I am learning.
At school, I always questioned how useful it would be to know how to ask for orange juice in French or to use Pythagoras’ Theory. It’s safe to say I didn’t need to know either of those things. Having data skills helps me to pick up extra projects at work which definitely gets noticed by managers.
The coaches are great too. You meet them one-on-one to discuss anything you’re finding difficult.
I didn’t need to spend 30 years being terrified of formal education
I now know I didn’t need to spend 30 years being terrified of formal education. Being older and hopefully wiser means the behavioural issues from school aren’t there, and I’m learning skills that employers want.
It's at a pace I set myself, which allows me to take the time I need to get my head around new topics. Age is no barrier to this, in fact, it might actually be helpful to have a little more experience.
If like me, you didn’t have the best experience at school, don’t do what I did and avoid education for 30 years. Consider an apprenticeship.
