Callum, 18, was attending sixth form college in Newcastle after securing 12 GCSEs the previous year and winning a number of conditional offers from a selection of top universities.
“I suddenly realised I was going the university route for the wrong reasons and decided to leave college and look at more work based alternatives. £40,000 worth of debt is an expensive way to boost your social life if you are not totally committed to what you are doing.”
Callum still lives in Walker with his parents, his mum is a nurse and his father is currently out of work.
“My parents have been very supportive but understandably concerned that I’d invested a year of my time doing A levels I no longer wanted to finish.
“Being contained in a school curriculum was not for me and I wanted something more work experienced focused and immediate. Something that felt more adult and that’s when Baltic Training Services recommended I try their 15 week course at the IT Hub in Newcastle or Sunderland.
“I’d already been talking to Baltic Training Services about IT apprenticeships and they suggested I undertake their new IT traineeship at one of their upcoming Dynamo IT hubs because it would provide me with work-based IT skills and an opportunity to get in front of some of the region’s best employers.”
Callum attended a recruitment event in Newcastle and was interviewed and subsequently secured a place on the Dynamo IT hub at the Newcastle City Learning Centre provided free of charge by Newcastle City Council.
“I was delighted to get this opportunity as it is a 15 week course that I was able to undertake at no personal expense and also receive a weekly allowance toward my board, travel and food of £40.
“As a result having gained distinctions in all parts of the course I’m now considered to be qualified to start for an employer on a Level 3 Apprenticeship.
“Baltic Training Services and the tutors on the Dynamo IT hub have been fantastic; I’ve been able to sit in front employers such as Accenture, Open Cast Software and of course Sage plc.”
Following a number of interviews Callum secured an apprenticeship with a top employer – Sage plc. He will now get to finish his apprenticeship as a paid full time employee.
“I’m thrilled with this result and very excited for the future and so are my parents.”
Louise Ball, operations director of training company Baltic Training Services, said: “Information Technology is a major employer in the region employing 32,000 people and as its fastest growing sector this will only become more so. It is vital that more young people like Callum are made aware of IT apprenticeships and some pre-apprenticeship IT training courses designed to help access employers and develop the skills they are crying out for.”
Anyone interested in finding out more can contact Baltic Training Services on 01325 731065 or email yourfuture@baltictraining.com