Plymouth soldier shares how his Army apprenticeship has helped him progress his career

Staff Sergeant Paul Stafford from St Budeaux, Plymouth, shares his experience of studying on the Army Apprenticeship Programme (AAP) and how this has allowed him to gain qualifications and skills to progress his Army career and personal life.

This National Apprenticeship Week (5th- 9th March 2018) the British Army has found that 37% of employees aged 18-34 would consider doing an apprenticeship, and they prioritise the following elements when looking for a job:

• Good salary (62%)
• Finding a role that they can promote in so they can stay there for a long time (30%)
• Support to continue learning whilst in their role (30%)
• Gain qualifications whilst working (29%)
• Opportunities to learn skills that could help them outside their role, in their personal life or for further jobs (29%)

The British Army Apprenticeship Programme (AAP) has 43 different apprenticeships available across a breadth of trades for Soldiers to choose from such as administration and construction to hospitality and animal care. The AAP is part of a nationally-recognised scheme which equips Soldiers with new skills and a qualification, while in paid employment. Around 95% of new Soldiers study on the AAP, with 7,500 Army personnel completing their apprenticeship each year, which is a higher completion rate than the national average.

Staff Sergeant Paul Stafford, who is a Regimental Signals Warrant Officer in The Royal Tank Regiment, said: “My BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Electronic Communications and ICT has been an excellent scaffold for my career in the Royal Tank Regiment and I am now looking forward to progressing on to my Level 3 NVQ in Engineering and my future BA Hons degree in Career Leadership and Management. I have been fully supported by the Army to complete my apprenticeship while carrying out my role in my unit, and look forward to taking advantage of other opportunities to learn valuable and transferrable skills that will help me in the Army and in my personal life.”

Colonel Simon Stockley, Director of Army Recruitment, said: “As the largest employer provider of apprenticeships, we are proud to equip our Soldiers to succeed and progress within the British Army and also provide skills that are recognised and valued by all employers. While completing an apprenticeship in the Army, Soldiers are paid from £18,488 a year to train. Additionally, they have opportunities to travel, take part in adventurous training and make lifelong friends. We invest in our people and support them throughout their careers.”

The British Army supports people in achieving their personal and professional goals, whether it’s conquering a pull up or taking on a leadership role. The Army is recruiting and there is a breadth of roles and opportunities available in both the Regular Army and Army Reserve, from helicopter pilot to nurse, from engineer to IT specialist. You can go sky diving or skiing abroad as part of adventure training and gain further qualifications such as an apprenticeship or a degree. As part of life in the British Army, lifelong friendship bonds are formed and incredible challenges are overcome to achieve worthwhile results, for example saving lives by providing assistance on humanitarian or peacekeeping missions at home or abroad.

Did you know, with a career in the Army:

• You receive an annual salary of £31,232 after training plus pension as an Officer (available to those after completing their A Levels as Direct Entry or as a graduate) and £18,488 after training plus pension as a Soldier.
• You receive 30 days annual holiday on top of all the usual bank holidays, and extra time off in lieu of operations.
• You have opportunities to travel overseas for operations, adventurous training, sport and peacekeeping from training in Kenya to supporting the UN in Cyprus or from sky-diving in Florida to mountaineering in the Himalayas.
• You have access to free gym and sports facilities, with world class fitness and nutritional advice.
• You gain skills and qualifications that are transferable to life after the Army.
• Any medical procedures or dental work that you require is paid for by the Army and is carried out by fully qualified Army personnel or private practices where necessary.
• You have a clear promotion structure to follow. Each successive rank brings extra responsibilities, duties and respect, and an increase in pay.

As a Soldier you will be

• trained as an apprentice with a choice of 40 different schemes, from engineering to animal care.
• offered over 500 different qualifications, from GCSE to degrees, including all kinds of professional and practical qualifications in areas such as chartered engineering and accountancy that will build up your CV.

To find out more please search for www.army.mod.uk/apprenticeships or search ‘This is Belonging’.