Apprentice says she won over 'sceptical' parents

A 20-year-old from Slough created a presentation to convince her "sceptical" parents she should take an apprenticeship instead of going to university.

Maria Imran, from Slough, had the option to go to university or take a Level 3 Engineering Technician Apprenticeship at the Mars Wrigley UK factory.

Speaking during National Apprenticeship Week, Maria chose to reject her university offers and pursue the vocational option instead.

But she said her parents needed a lot of convincing, adding: "I think my mum was [thinking I was] taking the easy route and being lazy."

Now in her second year, Maria said her parents were fully supportive.

"My parents are really proud of me whenever we have guests over they do love to brag about it," she said.

As a woman who wears a hijab, Maria said she felt "really proud representing my community".

"When you go into a room of people who have never seen people like me before it is a bit daunting, but I give quite a good representation," she said.

Ross Brawn, the former managing director of Formula 1 team Brawn GP, took an apprenticeship when he was seventeen.

He was one of the panellists on an event put on by Reading's Economy and Destination Agency (REDA).

It said apprenticeship participation for 16-to-19‑year‑olds in the town was 2.7%, which is higher than the south east average of 1.9%.

However Reading's rate of those not in education or employment is 3.3%, higher than the national average of 2.7%.

Brawn took a four-year engineering apprenticeship at the UK Atomic Energy Authority in Harwell, Oxfordshire, which he said laid the foundation for his career in motorsport.

"I did okay with my exams in the end but I had a yearning to get out in the wide world and earn a living and an apprenticeship was a great way to do it," he said.

"An apprenticeship is a very exciting and rewarding way into your career - you are learning from day one and getting rewarded from day one."

Thatcham Research Automotive Academy has been training new apprentices and said more than 70% of repair and salvage professionals report a skills shortage, resulting in an aging workforce.

It said it had equipped more than 5,000 people with the skills the industry needs since 2021.

One student, Olivia Hamilton, 20, is a paint sprayer apprentice on a 27-month programme.

She comes to Thatcham Research six times a year and the rest of the time is in their workplace.

"It is such a great community here and we all bond over the job," she said.

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