Isabella Lovejoy-Fenech

A YOUNG woman who has been hired by the Town Hall to its equalities team has told how apprenticeships can break open opportunities in the world of work.

Isabella Lovejoy-Fenech was given a permanent role after six months learning new skills at the council.

“My life would be so different if I hadn’t done an apprenticeship,” she said.

“I wouldn’t have the confidence I have today, and I used to struggle a lot with that in the past. Meeting and working with lots of different people has really made a difference.”

Ms Lovejoy-Fenech, who lives in Barnsbury, began her apprenticeship with the council aiming to complete a level three business administration qualification.

She said that apprenticeships should now be promoted more in schools during careers advice sessions.

“I was in my second year of sixth form and everyone else was planning on going to university,” she added.

“If I’m being honest, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do after sixth form at all. In school, they didn’t really tell us about apprenticeships, it was really only about uni.”

She said with apprenticeships “you can do one for almost any job role you can think of,” adding: “And once you do the research you find out what your interests are and what you want to do. Once you find what your strengths are, you can do anything.”

Ms Lovejoy-Fenech was speaking to the Tribune ahead of next week’s National Apprenticeship Week.