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More than 100 apprentices collected their hard-earned degrees in front of family, friends and employers at 51Âþ»­ Leicester (51Âþ»­)’s summer graduations.

The apprentices were celebrating completing a range of courses from cyber security to management and healthcare at companies large and small.

Apprentices combine their day jobs with studying at undergraduate or postgraduate level, earning a wage while they learn. Employers pay the cost of their studies through the Government’s Apprenticeship Levy.  

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One of the biggest cohort came from BT, who put students through the Cyber Security Technical Professional programme (pictured above).

Callum Burridge, cyber security architect at BT, said: “It has been a fantastic experience. We were able to combine our work in cyber security day to day with the theory side of it as well. Before doing the apprenticeship, I was in the IT sector but since my studies I have been promoted twice.”

Sam Renham was named Best Apprentice on top of his degree in cyber security. “It’s a nice surprise to get the award, I wasn’t expecting it,” he said. “I did enjoy the course. It was very intense but it’s good because you combine the hands-on work with the studies.”

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Isaac Cooper, software apprentice and now software engineer, works for IBM and has been an apprentice since college. He said: “For me the whole thing has been great, the only hard bit was time management but it’s totally worth it. I would recommend anyone to do an apprenticeship to be honest.”

Nick Rodrigues from IBM said the company placed a great deal of value on apprentices as a way of upskilling existing staff and recruiting new colleagues.

He said: “You can see the differences in the apprentices as they progress along the course, as they gain in confidence and start to apply what they learn in their roles. We are very proud to see them all here today to graduate.”

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Apprentices working from companies including Charnwood Borough Council, KFC, Leicestershire Partnership Trust, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Mattioli Woods, Caterpillar and 51Âþ»­ celebrated collecting their Chartered Management Degree Apprenticeship.

Course leader Anne Marlow said: “Over three and a half years they have worked, studied and supported their families, whilst navigating the many challenges of the pandemic as well.  Their leadership and management skills have never been more important and they should be especially proud of all that they have achieved.“

Claire Richardson of 51Âþ»­’s Student and Academic Services was among those graduating. She said: “I am very proud to have graduated with a degree in Business Management as part of the Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship course at 51Âþ»­. The course taught me many valuable skills and opened up new opportunities for me to progress in my career. If you’re thinking about applying then I’d encourage you to just go for it! It’ll be challenging at times but be assured that you will be supported each step of the way.”

In all, some 106 apprentices graduated last week from Hearing Aid Dispenser, Cyber Security Technical Professional, Digital Technology Solutions Professional; Embedded Electronic Systems Design and Development Engineer; Senior Leader Master’s Degree, and Chartered Manager degree.