What would you say was the biggest challenge you faced?

Balancing time between the course, work, and a personal life! It’s nothing new; everyone has this problem, particularly those who have other commitments on top. It’s important that you can safeguard time for each of these aspects. My advice is to be strict about protecting the time you’re allocated for the course and apprenticeship work, and give yourself enough time to recover and refresh. It’s amazing how much time away from a desk can help clarify things.

What did you learn about yourself on the course?

I’m a lot more confident now than I was before. I nearly didn’t take the course because my low self-esteem made me think I wouldn’t be clever enough to learn at that level, but I’ve been really surprised at how much I’ve achieved and how much I’ve enjoyed learning. I’ve also been able to develop my interpersonal skills and move from being the quiet one in the corner to being comfortable leading a group activity or presenting my work to others. This has really helped at work when I need to justify a decision or lead others, and I’m a lot more comfortable speaking up in meetings. I’m grateful to the friends I’ve made on course for helping me grow.

What would you say to someone considering studying this apprenticeship at Loughborough?

I’d say that it’s a lot of work, but it’s a great opportunity. You will get so much out of the course, and it also helps to develop you as an individual. If you have the time and it’s something that interests you, go for it!