Stepping foot onto a new career ladder can be intimidating, whether you’re straight out of school or have been in the world of work for years.
It’s why so many people choose apprenticeships as a way to build an occupation they can be passionate about.
An apprenticeship is a job with training. It’s a real job, with hands-on experience. You will have a contract of employment and an apprenticeship study programme to support your development.
And apprenticeships aren’t just for those who are beginning their careers.
Salford City College. Credit: Supplied
Apprenticeships at Salford City College deliver a wide range of apprenticeships at many levels, including programmes for those already working at a management level.
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One such person is Sarah Scanlan. Last year, she moved into a more senior role at Salford City Council and went down the apprenticeship route to invest in her personal development to advance her leadership skills.
She said: “I saw this as a great opportunity to invest in me.
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“I had limited experience of managing people, and so I really felt the need to broaden my skill set.”
Sarah undertook her apprenticeship during the pandemic but found that studying in this way still provided a lot of support.
Sarah and Jordi with assessors Lydia and Karen. Credit: Supplied
Sarah added: “It’s been really helpful to know that there is so much support on hand from the College, no matter what day or time, there’s always someone to help you when you need it.
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“My assessor Karen has been the biggest help to me throughout this whole process. Whether it’s at eight o’clock in the morning or six in the evening, she has been there to answer all of my burning questions.”
Sarah also had the task of supporting another apprentice at a much earlier stage of their career path, sharing her skills and knowledge with Level 3 Business Administration apprentice Jordi Matthews.
“Apprenticeships are challenging but immensely rewarding,” Sarah said.
Jordi said: “I chose to do an apprenticeship as I left University, and I thought that it was a great opportunity to get into the world of work and to get onto the career ladder.”
Kris Buckley, who undertook an accountancy apprenticeship at Salford City College. Credit: Supplied
Another person who embarked on an apprenticeship later in life is Kris Buckley, who had previously worked as a section leader in a supermarket before undertaking an accountancy qualification.
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He said: “Working in an industry that wants and relies on experience, I feel privileged that my employer has invested in my development through an apprenticeship.
“With every big decision, there will be reservations, but deciding to pursue my apprenticeship was too good of an opportunity to pass up.”
Now almost finished with his apprenticeship, Kris said: “Having completed my level 2 qualification at Salford City College, undertaking an apprenticeship with the College felt like a positive next step, having experienced the expert and professional training they deliver.
“I am looking forward to the future and climbing up the ladder in my career.”
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If you would like to follow in the footsteps of Sarah, Jordi and Kris and start an apprenticeship, then contact the Apprenticeships at Salford City College team on: 0161 631 5555 or [email protected].
Featured image: Unsplash
Business
Sacha Lord set to back local hospitality again with money behind the bar of one Greater Manchester pub
Danny Jones
Local figure Sacha Lord is once again looking to help support Greater Manchester’s food and drink scene once again this spring by putting a total of £2.5k behind the bar of one lucky pub.
Well, let’s be honest, we’re about to be the real lucky ones.
It’s far from the first time that the Night Time Economy Advisor has done this, having previously put sizeable sums towards shared tabs on a few ocassions over the last few years.
Lining up his next handout for this coming early May bank holiday (perfect timing), it’s going to be a super and potentially very sloppy Sunday…
Tell me your favourite pub in Greater Manchester.
Bank Holiday Sunday 3rd May, I’ll be turning up and putting £2500 behind the bar.
Sharing the video above online earlier this week, the 54-year-old simply wrote, “Tell me your favourite pub in Greater Manchester. Bank Holiday Sunday, 3rd May, I’ll be turning up and putting £2500 behind the bar.”
The message is as straightforward as ever: “Support your local pub.”
Now obviously, the fact that people can reply with their go-to boozers and help influence the decision is one thing – something that has certainly always created an attraction each time he’s done this – but it’s also just a good way of marketing these watering holes to begin with.
Whether or not someone’s favourite public house tucked away in one of the 10 boroughs, or their bar of choice here in Manchester city centre, ends up being selected or not, it’s obviously great publicity having their names plastered on a notable social media account.
This is especially so when you see how much the post itself ends up being reshared and the overall exposure Lord ultimately lends them via creating such a big crowd discussion.
Here’s hoping we get proper beer garden weather over that long weekend.
It’s also worth noting that the further support stunts like this have helped garner support for other regional businesses – in particular, indies that are battling the cost of living crisis and so many other challenges within the sector – has proved crucial for some places to stay open to begin with.
A good example is the Thirsty Korean, who teamed up with the Altrincham-born entrepreneur to cover hundreds of bills back in 2023, and has now been able to expand into a larger venue down the road from their original Chorlton location.
The obstacles facing the hospitality industry remain varied and numerous, but gestures like this can go a long way to helping prop up those who need it.
Beyond The Music reveals first wave of lineup ahead of inaugural Salford edition
Danny Jones
Greater Manchester arts festival and conference Beyond The Music is back for 2026, but this time it will be heading to MediaCity for a Salford debut.
The long weekender is still a relative newcomer when it comes to the Manc events calendar, but it’s quickly gathered plenty of repute not just in the North West but within the industry as a whole.
Holding just its third edition later this year, Beyond The Music ’26 is set to be the most ambitious yet, spread across the three days and promising an impressive lineup both in terms of live performers, but also speakers, industry experts and wider activities.
With MediaCity and dock10 hosting their inaugural Beyond The Music, it’s another big win for the second city, with Sports Personality of the Year sticking over Salford way for the foreseeable future, along with other events like the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) Awards moving to the Quayside.
Much of the BBC’s World Cup coverage is also being hosted at their Salfordian studios and main Northern base this summer, too.
Given that so many big annual dates have now made the switch to central Manchester – the BRITs and the MOBOs, just to name two recent examples – you could say it only makes sense to spread things out across the surrounding boroughs and their equally rich heritage.
Not that you should need reminding, but Salford isn’t just part of the region: it’s a city all of its own right that boasts an immense amount of pride over what is nothing short of a sterling musical history.
As for the 2026 Beyond The Music programme, besides both the local artists and more international creatives than ever, there’ll be keynote conversations, industry showcases, and wider networking opportunities for anyone looking to immerse themselves deeper in this world.
Having now dropped the initial wave of this year’s lineup, we know the first 22 artists set to play BTM ’26, including Kofi Stone, our very own Loose Articles, fellow Manchester-based singer-songwriter Ewan Sim and plenty more to get excited about.
Sarah Pearson, Co-founder of Beyond The Music, said in an official statement: “Beyond The Music’s mission is to seize this moment, to come together and drive meaningful and lasting change in the music and content industry.
“It’s undeniable that the impact and importance of music and content are stronger than ever, but this is not reflected in their perceived value.
“The ethical and economic infrastructure of the music and content industries demands urgent attention and bold reform… It is our responsibility to protect creativity in order to ensure it doesn’t just survive but thrives. Things may feel difficult, but they are still possible.”
Mayor Burnham added: “Greater Manchester has always been at the forefront of cultural innovation, and Beyond The Music is a vital opportunity for the sector to come together and address the challenges and opportunities facing music and content creation…
“With its move to MediaCity and a bigger-than-ever programme, Beyond The Music is helping to cement our city region’s place at the centre of the creative economy.” Taking place between 7-9 October 2026, you can register for early bird tickets right HERE.
Mayor Andy Burnham and friends help launch Beyond the Music at MediaCityUK (Credit: Mark Waugh)
Daisy Jackson -
15th August 2022 
