National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) is an opportunity to reflect on the value of combining work with learning. This year, NAW runs from 9th to 15th February. The essence of an apprenticeship is simple: gaining practical skills and knowledge while contributing in a real work environment.
We love to celebrate NAW because it shines a light on something we get to see every day: talented young people carving out their careers, learning on the job, and surprising themselves with how far they’ve come in such a short time.
This year, three of our budding talent, Will Blumenstock, Jake Furniss and Korresia MacGregor look back on their apprenticeship journeys - with Will and Jake recently completing theirs, and Korresia two years into hers. Their reflections are honest, relatable, and a real reminder that growth often happens quietly, until suddenly… it doesn’t.
“Just because it’s hard, doesn’t mean you can’t do it.”
Reflecting back, if there’s one message our apprentices would send back to themselves on Day One, it’s that feeling overwhelmed is completely normal and completely temporary.
Korresia shared the kind of pep‑talk most new starters wish they had:
“Just because it’s hard, doesn’t mean you can’t do it… progress isn’t always obvious straight away - but that doesn’t mean it’s not happening.”
Will echoed the importance of speaking up early and often:
“Ask others about their experiences… and ask for help whenever you don’t understand things - it’s vital when beginning your journey.”
Jake’s advice followed the same theme - keep asking questions:
“I would tell myself to always ask questions… learning from people with experience helped me to progress. And I’d remind myself not to let setbacks disappoint me - they’re all part of the process."
This is exactly the culture we’re proud of: we encourage curiosity, mistakes are part of learning, and you’re never expected to “just know.”
When everything clicks
There’s a moment in every apprenticeship where you suddenly notice the shift - when you stop feeling like the one constantly asking for help… and realise people are now asking you - that moment where you suddenly realise, “Hang on… I actually know what I’m doing.”
For Korresia, it was the shift from asking for advice to being asked for advice:
“The moment you realise people are now coming to you… such a massive comparison to the start of your apprenticeship.”
Will found his confidence through exam success:
“Passing my exams with strong grades gave me the confidence that I was developing the technical knowledge and skills needed.”
Jake’s milestone came when he completed his final exams and officially stepped up:
“When I finished my exams and became a senior… more people were asking me questions and I felt confident helping clients and colleagues.”
Those moments matter, because they remind apprentices just how far they’ve come and the moments we love watching - when the hard work turns into belief.
Myth‑busting: Apprenticeships vs reality
There are still a few myths floating around about apprenticeships, so we asked our apprentices to set the record straight.
Myth 1: “University is always the better option.”
Korresia discovered otherwise: “Many school‑leaver apprentices had so much more experience and knowledge than me as a graduate… Uni isn’t the only path.”
Myth 2: “Skills days and development tasks aren’t useful.”
Will’s experience proved the opposite: “These become incredibly valuable during the End Point Assessment… saving significant time and providing a strong base.”
Myth 3: “Admin and reflective tasks are just chores.”
Jake realised those tasks had hidden value: “Reflective writing allowed me to see the improvements I’d made from where I began to where I am now.”
The truth is apprenticeships offer a great way to gain hands‑on, structured learning that really boosts confidence.
The emotional rollercoaster (and the emojis to prove it)
Korresia summed it up with three emojis:
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📚 Daily studying becoming the norm
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🎢 The emotional ups and downs
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🎉 The huge celebration when you pass
Jake also picked his trio:
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✍️ Writing/exams — “50% of the apprenticeship”
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🧑💼 Work — applying what you’ve learned in real life
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🎉 Celebration — “getting over the final hurdle is worth it!”
Between the study marathons, real‑world experience, and the highs of passing each milestone, the journey is intense but deeply rewarding.
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(Team offsite training)
Futureproofing: Tips from people who see how it works
Will’s advice is simple, but game‑changing:
“Start exam revision early… you’ll get a far deeper understanding that benefits your job too.”
Korresia would redesign the apprenticeship with more focus on exam technique from day one:
“It’s one of the hardest parts to get used to, but often overlooked early — even though it can be the difference between passing and failing.”
If anyone knows what actually helps, it’s the people living it.
So… what does this all say about learning at Shorts?
It says we’re proud of our apprentices, not just when they pass exams, but when they feel uncertain, ask for help, or push through the “I’m not sure I can do this” moments.
It says our apprentices are curious, determined, and wonderfully human.
It says no two journeys look the same and that’s something we celebrate.
It says that whether your childhood dream involved dinosaurs, banking, or something entirely different, there’s space here to grow into the career that fits you now.
And more than anything, it says you’ll be supported from day-one nerves to exam‑day celebrations, and every step in between.
Looking ahead with learning in mind
National Apprenticeship Week reminds us that learning is lifelong. Whether through traditional apprenticeships or paid qualifications, Shorts remains committed to helping our people grow. We believe that when individuals thrive, so does our business.
Are you interested in building your career with us? Explore opportunities with Shorts and discover how we can support your professional development by visiting our working at Shorts and current vacancies pages.
Lana Reid
Lana is the Learning & Development Manager at Shorts. She has >8 years' experience in designing and delivering impactful learning experiences that empower individuals and elevate teams. Her role spans the full learning lifecycle from identifying development needs to creating and facilitating bespoke workshops and programmes that drive meaningful change.
View my articlesTags: Team News
