Apprenticeships are often talked about as a route into work. But for many learners, they become something much more: a platform for long-term career growth, confidence, and professional credibility.
At the Kaplan Apprenticeship Awards in December, we spoke to three apprentices about what their experience really gave them – beyond the qualification. Their reflections highlight three consistent outcomes: meaningful career progression, practical skills that last, and the confidence to aim higher.
Career progression and opportunity
For Maria, the value of her apprenticeship lay in how directly it supported her next steps.
“It’s provided me with the technical knowledge and skills to progress and move into different roles.”
She described how the programme had “opened up some doors” that previously felt out of reach, giving her both the capability and the credibility to explore new opportunities within her organisation and beyond.
Tom shared a similar experience. Before starting, he wasn’t convinced an apprenticeship would move him forward in the way he wanted. By the end, his view had changed completely.
“It helped me get to the next step of what I want to do.”
That sense of momentum matters. Rather than feeling locked into a single role or pathway, both apprentices saw their programmes as creating options – the chance to progress, specialise, or pivot as their interests and experience developed.
This is one of the defining strengths of apprenticeships: they are designed around real occupational standards, so the learning directly reflects what employers need. The result is not just a certificate, but demonstrable experience that supports promotion, role changes, and long-term employability.
Skills that support long-term success
Career progression depends on more than job titles. It requires a combination of technical ability, professional behaviours, and the confidence to apply both in new situations.
Maria summed this up clearly:
“It’s the combination of knowledge, skills and behaviours. It really rounds you as a professional.”
Rather than focusing on one narrow skillset, her apprenticeship helped develop how she works, communicates, and approaches challenges – all essential for sustained career growth.
For Tom, the impact was tangible in a specific area: data and digital skills.
“Excel was a weak point for me. Now I use it daily at work.”
He explained that these skills weren’t learned in isolation or forgotten after an assessment. They were used consistently throughout the two-year course, becoming part of his everyday working practice.
This is a key difference between apprenticeships and more traditional training routes. Skills are developed in context, applied immediately, and reinforced over time. That repetition builds confidence and competence – and ensures that learning continues to pay dividends long after the programme ends.
Confidence and personal growth
While skills and qualifications are measurable outcomes, confidence is often the most transformative.
For Euan, it was the single most important thing he gained from his apprenticeship.
“Confidence is the biggest skill I learned.”
He spoke about being encouraged to step forward, volunteer for new challenges, and make the most of opportunities as they arose.
“Take every opportunity. Take that leap.”
That mindset shift – from hesitation to initiative – can change the trajectory of a career. Confidence affects how people perform in interviews, contribute in meetings, and position themselves for progression. It also shapes how they see their own potential.
For many apprentices, balancing work and study is demanding. But navigating that challenge successfully often leads to a stronger sense of capability and resilience, which carries into future roles and responsibilities.
Changing perceptions of apprenticeships
Tom’s experience also highlights how apprenticeships themselves are still misunderstood.
“It was an unknown area for me before I started.”
Like many people, he initially viewed apprenticeships as something limited to school leavers or specific trades. Completing his programme changed that view entirely.
“Now I can only recommend it.”
This shift in perception is common among apprentices who experience first-hand how structured, rigorous, and professionally valuable modern programmes are. Today’s apprenticeships support careers in accountancy, data, financial services, technology, and many other sectors – often at advanced and higher levels.
More than a qualification
Taken together, these stories show that apprenticeships are not just an alternative way to train. They are a long-term investment in people.
They create progression by building relevant experience. They support success by embedding practical skills into everyday work. And they develop confidence by pushing learners to take ownership of their growth.
For anyone considering an apprenticeship – or supporting someone who is – the message from Maria, Tom and Euan is clear: the impact goes far beyond the classroom, and far beyond the end date of the programme.
Interested in apprenticeships?
If an apprenticeship feels right for you, the best next step is to see what roles are available today. Visit our apprenticeship vacancies page to find opportunities across the industries we train in and apply when you’re ready.
If you’re already working, an apprenticeship could still be an option. Many learners develop new skills by training with the support of their current employer. If you’d like guidance on how to raise the topic, read our article on how to talk to your employer about doing an apprenticeship.