Uni isn't everything says top apprentice
Britain's newly-crowned top Higher Apprentice today urged other youngsters to consider following in her footsteps as an alternative to going to university straight from school.
Beth Sherbourne (pictured), a senior procurement officer at MBDA missle system's plant in Bolton, has been named the Higher Apprentice of the Year in the National Apprenticeship Awards.
The 22 year-old studied for her degree during the four year apprenticeship said the apprenticeship had opened many doors for her.
"I was working part-time in a supermarket and had intended to go to university," she said, "but a lot of my peers had done the same thing and found themselves still working there when they got their degrees.
"I would encourage anyone to think about becoming an apprentice," she said. "I was able to earn while learning and still achieve a degree but it has given my career a head start. I got great support from Semta, EAL and, most of all, my colleagues at MBDA.
