Football enthusiast uses apprenticeships to climb the career ladder
Posted on: 13th Jan 2025
Apprenticeships 
Seven in ten school leavers finish secondary education not knowing what they want to do for a career, with many now turning to an apprenticeship to ensure they make the right career choice.
That’s according to a recent Government report published to help us better understand how students have coped with disruptions to learning as a result of the pandemic four years ago.
The findings ring true with 19-year-old Liam Meeson from Cannock in Staffordshire.
After beginning an apprenticeship as a plumber, Liam opted against a career as a tradesman in favour of working for the family business in a warehouse. And when that didn’t work out, he turned to becoming a sports coach with Sport4Kids and hasn’t looked back.
Liam recently passed Ignite Training’s Level 2 Community Activator qualification and has now enrolled onto the Level 4 Sports Coach apprenticeship – a qualification equivalent to the first year of an undergraduate degree.
Studying an apprenticeship has not only allowed Liam to discover his true passion, but also develop his professional and personal skills by mixing on-the-job responsibilities with a structured academic programme.
“Plumbing just wasn’t for me,” said Liam. “All my mates were getting into trade jobs, so I guess I followed the same path.
“I had always wanted to be a sports coach growing up – even my PE teachers at school knew that. So, when the job at Sport4Kids came up I was all over it and got the role.”
As a full-time apprentice, Liam works with Sport4Kids’ existing team by delivering breakfast and after-school clubs covering a variety of sports including football, rugby, basketball and gymnastics.
Responsibilities on-the-job are mixed with training delivered by Ignite Training’s team of experienced and qualified tutors. The end goal is to not only help learners develop skills essential to the job, but also support businesses to grow by enhancing productivity and upskilling both new and established employees.
“I really enjoyed my apprenticeship,” said Liam. “Sometimes the written work was challenging, but Sam (Biswell, Tutor) was amazing – he’d check in with me at least once each week to make sure I was on top of my training.
“The academic side of the apprenticeship I made time to get my pass grade.
“Practically I love watching people we work with improve week by week, I find it really rewarding and truthfully it doesn’t feel like a job to me. I’m not dragging myself out of bed each day to go to work, I’m genuinely excited about the day ahead.
“My colleagues are supportive which I feel is the bonus of studying an apprenticeship. They want to see me improve as it not only benefits me, but their business too.”
Now Liam has passed the Level 2 apprenticeship, he will enrol onto Ignite Training’s Level 4 Sports Coach programme in the new year where he plans to take his knowledge and understanding of the job to new levels.
“Every day has presented new challenges and responsibilities to me,” said Liam. “We’re delivering sessions covering a range of sports to participants of different ages.
“That’s been good for my development I feel.
“I’m pleased to have the opportunity to study the Level 4 Sports Coach programme with Sport4Kids’ support.”
Further information about Ignite Training’s portfolio of apprenticeship standards for sports clubs, businesses and charities are available to view here.
