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Ambitious Daryl making up for lost time with ‘perfect’ apprenticeship
Buckinghamshire New University apprentice Daryl Haynes-Samuel has had jobs ranging from plasterer to supermarket shelf-stacker but says he wishes he had looked into entering his current role much earlier.
Daryl, 26, is one of four apprentices at the University in High Wycombe and is on a 12-month contract working in Desktop Services four days a week while also studying for a Level 3 NVQ in IT at Aylesbury College one day a week.
His employment background includes stints as a plasterer, selling Sky TV door-to-door and working nights at Morrisons supermarket but he says he is determined to build a career in IT.
Coinciding with National Apprenticeship Week 2012 between 6-10 February, Daryl, of High Wycombe, said: “If I could go back and speak to my 18-year-old self I would say to go and look for this kind of opportunity. An apprenticeship is perfect for me.
“Every day I am learning something new and being challenged in different ways and once my apprenticeship is finished I would like to work here or elsewhere in a similar role.”
Daryl has had to take a drop in pay to carry out the apprenticeship but says it is worth it for the experience he is gaining. He had previously completed a CISCO Networking Academy Certificate at Bucks New University.
Daryl added: “I knew that I wanted to go into IT and thought that it would straightforward to find a job once I had the Cisco qualification but any networking companies I applied to all required experience.
“When I heard about the apprenticeship opportunity at Bucks New University I did have to consider the fact that I would be taking a drop in pay from my previous job but, weighing it up, it was a step well worth taking.”
According to the National Audit Office, more than two-thirds of apprenticeships in England in the past five years were taken by people aged over-25 and Daryl says the scheme is ideal for him.
He said: “I wish that I had done something like this at a younger age and not just gone for any job that paid me a decent wage but I’m here now, I’m in the profession I always wanted to go into and I’m determined to make the most of the chance.”
Annette Gimbert, People Engagement Director at Bucks New University, said the apprenticeship scheme was a good opportunity to tie up on-the-job experience at the University with a qualification from Aylesbury College.
Daryl, 26, is one of four apprentices at the University in High Wycombe and is on a 12-month contract working in Desktop Services four days a week while also studying for a Level 3 NVQ in IT at Aylesbury College one day a week.
His employment background includes stints as a plasterer, selling Sky TV door-to-door and working nights at Morrisons supermarket but he says he is determined to build a career in IT.
Coinciding with National Apprenticeship Week 2012 between 6-10 February, Daryl, of High Wycombe, said: “If I could go back and speak to my 18-year-old self I would say to go and look for this kind of opportunity. An apprenticeship is perfect for me.
“Every day I am learning something new and being challenged in different ways and once my apprenticeship is finished I would like to work here or elsewhere in a similar role.”
Daryl has had to take a drop in pay to carry out the apprenticeship but says it is worth it for the experience he is gaining. He had previously completed a CISCO Networking Academy Certificate at Bucks New University.
Daryl added: “I knew that I wanted to go into IT and thought that it would straightforward to find a job once I had the Cisco qualification but any networking companies I applied to all required experience.
“When I heard about the apprenticeship opportunity at Bucks New University I did have to consider the fact that I would be taking a drop in pay from my previous job but, weighing it up, it was a step well worth taking.”
According to the National Audit Office, more than two-thirds of apprenticeships in England in the past five years were taken by people aged over-25 and Daryl says the scheme is ideal for him.
He said: “I wish that I had done something like this at a younger age and not just gone for any job that paid me a decent wage but I’m here now, I’m in the profession I always wanted to go into and I’m determined to make the most of the chance.”
Annette Gimbert, People Engagement Director at Bucks New University, said the apprenticeship scheme was a good opportunity to tie up on-the-job experience at the University with a qualification from Aylesbury College.
She said: “Apprentices have the training opportunities and we have the work opportunities. We give people skills and training over a 12-month period and there is always the chance that if vacancies arise, they could be in line to apply for those roles at the end of the apprenticeship.
“They are all doing really well here and it is fantastic for us to be able to benefit these young people by developing and challenging them in the workplace.”
