Click on the names above to find out why they chose to work at Look Ahead, and what their roles involve on a typical day.
Alison – apprentice, Princess Beatrice House, a homelessness hostel
What were you doing before the apprenticeship scheme?I was a museum assistant for 15 years at various museums around London and I also worked in music retail – very customer based roles. I had contact with a variety of people and it was good fun.
Why did you choose to do an apprenticeship?My last job was office based (at a university). After a short time I became frustrated, as it was not a customer-facing role. Being in this role caused me to start thinking about what I wanted to do work-wise in the future.
My mother has dementia and at the time of making the decision I was very involved with social services and her care providers. This drew my attention to this area of work. I know it sounds corny but I wanted to do something to help people.
So I knew I wanted to work in the sector but didn’t quite know how to get my foot in the door without experience. Volunteering wasn’t an option for me because I had things to pay for and obviously, employers are looking for experience. So, the Apprenticeship Scheme gave me the opportunity to gain the knowledge and experience whilst getting paid.
Read Alison's complete apprenticeship profileNashir – apprentice, Gateway Foyer, a young peoples’ project
What were you doing before the apprenticeship scheme?I was studying Educational Studies and Criminology at University on a three-year course. However, I decided to do the Apprenticeship Scheme at Look Ahead rather than finishing my studies, as the job prospects on offer were not great.
Why did you choose to do an apprenticeship?The Apprenticeship Scheme has allowed me to gain a wide range of skills and knowledge in the housing and care sector, which is what I’ve always wanted to do.
Read Nashir's complete apprenticeship profile Sian – apprentice, The Mews, a mental health project
What were you doing before the apprenticeship scheme?I was doing something totally different. I was working full time in a cafe in Notting Hill, which I really enjoyed but it was not what I wanted to do ultimately. I realised that it gave me lots of skills that I could apply to a job in social care such as team working and communicating with a range of people.
Why did you join the scheme? What drew you to the social care sector? I had already decided that I wanted to work in an area that I was passionate about, wanted to learn new things and to work with people that that I had empathy for. When I saw the advert in the Metro, I knew it was the perfect career for me.
Read Sian's complete apprenticeship profile