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From McDonald's to media career... my apprenticeship journey so far


When I left school at 16 with 10 GCSEs, I got myself a full-time job at McDonalds. I earned myself a decent wage, and, over three and a half years, my on-the-job experience has seen me develop considerably on a personal level.

I have experience of working in a fast-paced environment, whether producing fresh food or providing customer service skills, but I always wanted something more.

One of my strongest and most enjoyable subjects at school was IT. My dad works in the IT industry and I have grown up around the latest technology where it is the ‘done thing’ for teenagers to carry pocket computers. In fact, the majority of people in the developed world own several computers in the form of laptops, tablets and mobiles.

While I’d always been aware of apprenticeships, I never really thought they would be suitable for me.

But that all changed 18 months ago, when I went to an apprenticeship day at a local college to learn more about IT apprenticeships. The day really opened my eyes to the idea of ‘earning while you’re learning’ which was an idea that excited me – a chance to get a recognised qualification while getting valuable on-the-job experience in the IT industry.

These apprenticeships are heavily subscribed and intensely competitive, but after a year and a half of trying to find the right apprenticeship for me, I discovered The Juice Academy!

When I saw the Academy’s advert on the National Apprenticeship Service website, it appealed instantly, providing the opportunity to earn while you learn, but in social media.

I, like most people in the world now, am addicted to social media, constantly browsing through newsfeed