'Learning doesn't feel like a burden'

They are both working their way through training with Shropshire employers, and see their long-term futures rolling out before their eyes.

Eighteen-year-old Nathan, from Prees, left school with his A-levels in his back pocket, but despite being accepted into university, realised he wanted to take the alternative route.

He is now working for SBC Training and completing a qualification in business administration.

"I did maths at A-level and some people thought I would just go and do a degree in maths," he said. "People generally expected that I would go to university. I got my place at university, but I didn't want to go. I wanted to look for an apprenticeship as I wanted a job as well as a qualification." He added: "Hopefully, because I am doing business admin, I will be able to use it to go into further roles, and possibly into accounting as well, and I'm going to be on an accounting course starting in April, and that's definitely going to open more doors.

"I would definitely recommend people give apprenticeships a good luck, to see what it is instead of just thinking of either going to university or getting a job."

Rachael, a 22-year-old from Trench in Telford, had been working in retail but felt she had hit a ceiling before embarking on her own business administration apprenticeship at Wellington Road Surgery.

She said: "I felt like I needed a little bit of a challenge. I wanted to learn, but didn't want to go to university, which meant the apprenticeship was perfect. It was something that would kick-start a career.

"I wanted to show that I was good at the role I was learning for.

"It's not just on a computer upstairs, it's with patients, and it's got a lot of depth."

The pair both hope the Ladder for Shropshire Campaign will help encourage more young people in Shropshire to consider apprenticeships as a means of finding work.

"I think it's fantastic," added Rachael. "You don't realise when you're working and when you're learning – learning doesn't feel like an additional burden.

"It's perfect for both the people that are taken on and for the employers, it's a brilliant opportunity.

"When you're chosen for an apprenticeship it gives you a feeling of importance, as they have not only chosen you to fill a job, but to take the time out to teach you."