National Apprenticeship Week Highlights Skills Success Stories

• National Apprenticeship Week 2025 runs from 10th to 16th February.
• The campaign aims to promote the benefits and opportunities of apprenticeships to individuals and employers.
• Billie Kemp, a Growth Company partnership and integration manager, shares how an apprenticeship has helped them develop new skills and kick-start their career.

This year, National Apprenticeship Week takes place between Monday, 10th and Sunday, 16th February.

The campaign aims to raise awareness about the values, benefits, and opportunities that apprenticeships bring to people from all walks of life – from college leavers who are just starting their careers to experienced professionals who are looking to branch out into a new industry.

Billie’s Story

To mark the occasion, we spoke to Growth Company (GC) partnership and integration manager Billie Kemp, who is currently doing an Associate Project Manager Apprenticeship (level 4) with GC Education and Skills alongside their day-to-day role. They have already passed their exam and should complete the course in April.

Billie explained why they chose an apprenticeship: “I was drawn to an apprenticeship because it allowed me to fit study around my day job and immediately apply the lessons I learned.

“I find practical learning and hands-on experience more effective than pure academic research, so it was an ideal route.”

They've already learned useful new skills: “I think I’ve improved my leadership skills over the past year or so.

“I’ve also learned new ways to approach team development, stakeholder communications, and time management, and begun supervising a substantial project for the first time.”

Billie said the future holds more options thanks to the course: “Even though I’m not a project manager, I think I’ll use a lot of the skills I’ve learned in my current role, especially when it comes to programmes like the Employment Legal Advice Service.

“The apprenticeship will probably influence my future career path, too, but we’ll have to wait and see! At the very least, it will help me to achieve some of my short- and medium-term goals.”

Finally, Billie highlighted the crucial role of support in her apprenticeship journey: “I’d definitely recommend an apprenticeship because they add a lot of value to your current job, keep you occupied and challenged, and provide an opportunity to become a more rounded professional.

“I couldn’t have done it without the support of the Growth Company, though. They genuinely see as much benefit in investing time and effort into my personal development as I do.

“My manager, Naomi, has been particularly helpful, always making sure to check in and see that I have the tools I need to succeed.”

Find out more about apprenticeships 

The Growth Company: Education and Skills support apprentices like Billie with practical learning and personalised guidance to foster professional growth and boost job performance. Find out more on their website.

You can also learn more via the National Apprenticeship Week website. 

The Growth Company

The Growth Company is an award-winning social enterprise with a 30-year history of enabling growth, creating jobs, and improving lives. We help people and businesses to develop, grow, and succeed through a range of employment, skills, and business support services. We provide employment, justice, and health services across the North of England and beyond.

Contact us today to find out more.