An apprenticeship is a full-time job with training, so you can earn while you learn and gain qualifications along the way.

Kendal College offers apprenticeships in over 20 different areas and our success rates are consistently above the national average.

Maggi Raisbeck, 29, of Ulverston, has recently completed the level three apprenticeship in animal care and is working in the Animal Rescue Centre at Kendal College.

She says: “I chose the apprenticeship as it meant I could get hands-on experience and guided learning as well as being paid.

“I learnt invaluable and specialist skills to help care for numerous native wildlife such as birds of prey, hedgehogs and juvenile mammals, as well as our resident rabbits, guinea pigs, rodents and exotic animals.

“I am now a full-time technician in the centre, caring for the animals and supporting the tutors and full-time students.”

University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMBT) has recently launched two ground-breaking apprenticeship schemes for 2018, providing a jobs boost to the region.

On January 18, three existing UHMBT staff members from Furness started their training at Kendal College, enabling them to qualify and take up posts within UHMBT pathology services.

Amanda O’Brien, vocational services manager at UHMBT, says: “We are delighted to be one of the first in the country to be offering these exciting apprenticeship opportunities.

“It’s great to see that we have six staff looking to upskill and commencing on their apprenticeship journey so soon into the new year on the Healthcare Science Associate Apprenticeship.

“I’d like to thank Kendal College for partnering with us. These apprenticeships will play a vital role in helping us fill positions in hard to recruit to areas and continue our journey of ‘growing our own to provide great care.’”

Kimberley Griffiths, a microbiology lab assistant at Furness General Hospital, is one of the apprentices.

She says: “It’s brilliant. Older students and mature students have families and other commitments, but this apprenticeship allows us to better ourselves, prepare for our future, without it affecting our family.

“For a long time I have wanted to progress in microbiology and I have always struggled with the science area.

"So when this apprenticeship came about I saw it as an opportunity to help myself progress to the next band level, from band three to band four.”