Harry strives to reach the top of his game with an apprenticeship

: Created: 24 January 2018

After answering a call by Charlton Athletic Community Trust for enthusiastic, talented young people to take part in a 12-week traineeship in partnership with London South East Colleges, he has recently secured a very lucrative apprenticeship opportunity with Newham College as their new Women’s Football Team Coach.

Harry is currently working towards an FA Level 2 Coaching Award as well as a Sports Leadership Level 3 Certificate. On top of all this, he is also studying GCSE English and maths.

“It’s a very busy time for me but I’m really enjoying the whole experience and feel like it’s taking me somewhere,” he says, “I owe so much to Charlton Athletic and my fabulous tutor Kate who has helped me turn my life around.

“Just a year ago, I was traveling around South East Asia after saving up my wages from being a kitchen porter for so long. During my travels, I was wondering what I would do when I returned to London. I knew I couldn’t go back to menial work, I had to find something that would give me a career.

“I am now working towards something very valuable in terms of gaining work experience, learning new skills and gaining knowledge in sports leadership and coaching. The staff here at my new workplace have been very welcoming and it’s great to be part of a very eager and dynamic student enrichment team.

“In the future, I would like to develop this role further and continue working with young people in academy coaching. I simply want to give something back.”

Sport, particularly football, has always been Harry’s chief passion in life. He was his school’s football team captain and as part of his traineeship was given the chance to volunteer in a series of sporting youth work experiences as well as receiving lessons in CV writing, job interview practice, communications and core skills.

If you feel that you are at a loose-end career-wise, and would like to change direction and earn as you learn, we’d like to hear from you.

London South East Colleges currently has around a hundred apprenticeship vacancies on offer spanning many industries; from construction, engineering, sports and leisure to hairdressing, dental nursing and much more.

For more information, please click here or call the team on 020 8295 7070.

If you are an employer and would like to find out more about taking on an apprentice, please click here.

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