“When you work with people who really need you, whether because they have been abused or they don’t have parents or that traditional family support structure, when they end up in hospital with mental health needs, it is the only support they may have,” David explained. “My work fulfils me every day, I really love it. I’m working, studying and I’m helping people. I couldn’t ask for anything more.”

Over 18 months of his nursing associate apprenticeship, David’s stand-out experiences include working on different types of wards while on his placement as well as learning to identify treatments and help different kinds of people. “I went to learning disability wards, general hospital, attended surgeries such as a hip replacement, worked with children and worked with people with eating disorders.”

He also enjoyed his lab days at University College Birmingham where lecturers bring together apprentices for in-person training at the Health Skills and Simulation Suite. “The lab is like nothing I’ve ever seen before!” he says, “They have a simulated ward, manikins that speak – I really enjoyed my lab days.”

David's hard work earned him Cygnet Group's Learner of the Year award alongside Kennedy Bowman, another of University College Birmingham's apprentices.

Having been at Cygnet for 11 years and entering a new career in the last few years, David appreciates  the life experiences he’s had and finds himself frequently sharing advice to his colleagues, “I’m like the grandfather at Cygnet! People come to me for advice!”.

Learn more about apprenticeships and how both employers and learners can flourish with training from University College Birmingham here.