Gabriel’s Apprenticeship journey

Gabriel Jones is a Senior Care Assistant at HC-One’s Carrington Court Care Home in Wigan, Manchester. His inspiring journey highlights how apprenticeships can provide young people with a fulfilling alternative to traditional college routes, especially within the social care sector.

Gabriel’s passion for caring for vulnerable individuals began at a young age. He initially worked in domiciliary care while attending college, before transitioning to the care home sector to support those with nursing care needs. In December 2023, Gabriel joined Carrington Court as a Care Assistant at just 19.

In February 2024, Gabriel embarked on his Level 3 Lead Adult Social Care Apprenticeship to enhance his skills, including communication and leadership. His growing confidence and expertise led to his promotion to Senior Care Assistant. Gabriel takes pride in using his skills to support his community and aims to complete his apprenticeship by February 2025.

Looking ahead, Gabriel plans to continue his training at Carrington Court to become a Nursing Assistant and eventually pursue HC-One’s Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship programme. He aspires to specialise as a Tissue Viability Nurse while further developing his leadership skills to advance into Clinical Management.

Reflecting on his journey, Gabriel said:““I am really enjoying completing my Level 3 Lead Adult Social Care Apprenticeship. To be given the opportunity to do an apprenticeship has been amazing. I’ve had the chance to learn from leading professionals and apply my knowledge to benefit those I care for."

“My advice to anyone considering an apprenticeship is to stay on track and ask as many questions as you can. This has helped me gain a wealth of knowledge about leadership and clinical skills. All the hard work you put in will benefit you in the future.”

Letizia’s Apprenticeship journey

HC-One’s Jack Dormand Care Home in Peterlee, County Durham, is celebrating apprenticeships this National Apprenticeship Week by showcasing Nursing Assistant Letizia "Tizzy" Taylor’s inspiring career journey.

Letizia has progressed from a Carer to a Nursing Assistant and is now completing a Level 5 Nursing Associate Apprenticeship. Once completed, this will allow her to become a Nursing Associate registered with the National Midwifery and Nursing Council, with plans to continue onto a Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship.

Before entering social care, Letizia earned a Diploma in Animal Management but later discovered her passion for care while working as a Domiciliary Care Assistant. She joined HC-One at Grampian Court Care Home as a Carer, where she completed her Level 2 Health and Social Care Apprenticeship and was promoted to Senior Carer.

Transferring to Jack Dormand Care Home, Letizia pursued her aspirations to move into clinical roles. She completed HC-One’s bespoke Care Assistant Development Programme alongside her Level 3 Lead Adult Care Worker Apprenticeship, which led to her promotion to Nursing Assistant. In 2023, Letizia embraced the opportunity to enrol in HC-One’s Nursing Associate Apprenticeship through the Open University, combining study with hands-on experience.

Letizia said:“Completing an apprenticeship has helped me gain clinical and personal skills, like communication and teamwork. It’s given me the confidence and knowledge to provide high-quality care and understand the theory behind it.

“I’m grateful for these opportunities and hope to continue my journey by completing the Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship. Apprenticeships are an amazing way to grow your career while working in a supportive environment.”

Niall’s Apprenticeship journey

Niall Hutton is a Nursing Assistant at HC-One’s Capwell Grange Care Home in Luton, Bedfordshire. His five-year apprenticeship journey highlights his commitment to providing the highest standard of care and passion for professional development.

Niall joined HC-One in September 2018 as a Care Assistant, inspired by his experience caring for his grandfather during his final days. The compassion of the hospice workers motivated him to pursue a career in social care.

As he gained confidence in his role, Niall enrolled in the Level 3 Lead Adult Care Worker Apprenticeship, completed in 2022. This achievement allowed him to progress to Senior Care Assistant and eventually Nursing Assistant.

In October 2024, Niall enrolled in HC-One’s Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship with the Open University. Once completed, he will become a National Midwifery and Nursing Council Registered Adult Nurse.

Niall’s dedication has not gone unnoticed—he won the Regional Rising Star Award at the East Midlands Regional National Apprenticeship Awards in 2022. Looking ahead, Niall is exploring pathways into Home Management and other advanced roles.

Reflecting on his journey, Niall said:“Apprenticeships are excellent for helping you develop skills and confidence. I’ve developed communication, reflection, and study skills through my apprenticeship programmes.”

“They allow a practical approach where you apply knowledge directly in the workplace. I’m grateful to everyone who has fostered my growth and commitment to delivering high standards of care.”

Sebastian’s Apprenticeship journey

Sebastian Gazda joined HC-One’s IT Team in May 2024 as a Network and Telephony Apprentice. He is currently completing a Level 4 Network Engineer apprenticeship with QA Limited, which he’s on track to finish by April 2025.

Before joining HC-One, Sebastian worked in cryptocurrency but wanted to build expertise in traditional networking. Through his apprenticeship, Sebastian is expanding his practical skills and gaining hands-on experience in the networking field, which aligns with his career aspirations.

Upon completing his Level 4 apprenticeship, Sebastian plans to further his development by pursuing either a Level 5 Networking Apprenticeship or a Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification. These qualifications will support his goal of becoming a well-rounded professional in the networking sector.

Sebastian said:“I chose an apprenticeship because it combines learning with practical work, especially in networking, where applying what you learn helps you retain knowledge more effectively. It’s rewarding to know that the work I do has a direct impact on benefiting both residents and staff.”

Daniel's apprenticeship journey

Dariusz Brysz is a Quality Assurance Manager who joined HC-One in June 2024. He is currently completing a Level 4 Quality Practitioner apprenticeship, furthering his expertise in quality assurance within Health and Social Care.

Dariusz brings nearly two decades of experience to HC-One, having started his career as a Care Assistant at 20 years old. Over the years, he has held various roles, including Senior Care Assistant, Deputy Home Manager, Registered Home Manager, Area Manager, CQC Inspector, and Quality Assurance Manager. This diverse background has equipped him with a deep understanding of care delivery and regulatory frameworks.

Through his apprenticeship, Dariusz is expanding his knowledge of regulations, laws, systems, and processes, ensuring he stays current with evolving tools and legislation. Once he completes his apprenticeship, Dariusz plans to continue honing his skills to enhance the quality of care provided across HC-One homes.

Dariusz said:“I love regulations and structure, and I have a consistent approach to the quality of care. The apprenticeship has helped me further develop my skills and knowledge, making me better at what I do.”

“Apprenticeships are a great opportunity to achieve a recognised qualification that helps you progress and go further in your career. They also enable us to make meaningful improvements in the lives of the people we care for.”

Finn’s Apprenticeship journey

Finn Carragher is a Senior Care Assistant at Dingle Meadow Care Home in Oldbury, West Midlands. Finn has completed his Level 3 Lead Adult Care Worker Apprenticeship, achieving a distinction in December 2023, and is now enrolled in the Level 4 Lead Practitioner in Adult Care Apprenticeship.

Finn originally joined social care as a stepping stone toward his ambition of becoming a paramedic. However, from his very first shift at HC-One, he discovered his passion for social care and knew he had found his calling. Before starting his role, Finn cared for elderly relatives and completed his Level 1 and Level 2 qualifications in Health and Social Care at school, achieving distinctions.

He started his career with HC-One in June 2022 as a Care Assistant. Through his Level 3 apprenticeship, he gained valuable skills, including team management, leadership techniques, and delivering kind, person-centred care. His apprenticeship experience also inspired him to take on additional roles, including Oral Health Ambassador, Fire Safety Coordinator, and Infection Prevention and Control Lead

Following the completion of his apprenticeship, Finn was promoted to Senior Care Assistant at Dingle Meadow, where he continues to make a positive impact on residents and his team. Finn has also shadowed his Home Manager to deepen his understanding of leadership and care home management.

Finn said:“My apprenticeship experience has been fantastic. I’ve gained numerous skills that have helped me progress into my senior role. I’ve been supported and encouraged by my Manager and Learning Coach throughout my journey.

“A standout moment for me was being awarded a Kindness in Care Award and being nominated for the ‘Rising Star’ category at the National Apprenticeship Awards. I’d encourage anyone thinking about completing an apprenticeship to go for it—it’s an amazing way to grow your skills and career in care.”

Bradley’s apprenticeship journey

Bradley Taylor, Cook at Priory Gardens, completed his Production Chef Level 2 Apprenticeship in November last year and is one of HC-One's youngest apprentices.

Bradley's passion for cooking started at school, when he completed a BTEC in Hospitality and Catering. However, he felt going to college full time wasn't for him, and an opportunity came up to join the team at Priory Gardens as a Kitchen Assistant.

Bradley joined the kitchen team at Priory Gardens in June 2021, where he started his apprenticeship journey at the age of 16. Since completing his apprenticeship two years later, he has since progressed to his current position of Cook.

He said: “When the opportunity arose for me to complete my Production Chef Level 2 apprenticeship to develop, learn and progress in my career I took it.

“I wanted to do the apprenticeship as it has always been a passion of mine to cook. From growing up cooking with my Nan and progressing through and finishing it. During the apprenticeship, I learnt how to maintain excellent standards of personal, food and kitchen hygiene, how to produce food that met portion controls, and budgetary constraints and gained more understanding of the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI).

“In the future, I'd like to complete my Level 3 Senior Chef Production apprenticeship as this is my next step in my career journey. Priory Gardens, HC-One and Lifetime Training have given me a great opportunity and helped me grow in confidence. I think an apprenticeship is a great way to learn skills whilst you are in paid employment. You get the best of both worlds. Being in a working environment, but still having the opportunity to learn at the same time.

“For anyone considering completing an apprenticeship, I'd advise them to go for it - it gives you more insight into your job and helps to build your confidence.”

Chelsey’s apprenticeship journey

Chelsey Jean Mason, Care Assistant at The Rowans, is currently completing her Level 2 Lead Adult Care Worker Apprenticeship.

After starting her early career in hairdressing, Chelsey later decided to pursue a career in the care sector as she felt it would be a rewarding job that offers more career progression opportunities.

Chelsey joined HC-One in August 2022 and chose to complete her Level 2 Lead Adult Care Worker Apprenticeship to help her gain a better understanding, skills and knowledge of her job role. She started her apprenticeship in May 2023 and is on track to complete her apprenticeship in June 2024.

She said: “I am really enjoying completing my apprenticeship. To be given the opportunity to do an apprenticeship has been amazing. I’m able to learn, achieve a qualification and work at the same time. I like the balance between the hands-on experience and education.

“Whilst I’ve had to be resilient, I feel like I have grown in my role as a Care Assistant at The Rowans since starting my apprenticeship. It’s given me new skills and I feel more confident in my role. I hope to progress further by completing my Level 3 Lead Adult Care Worker Apprenticeship and look at applying for more senior roles with HC-One.”

Emma’s apprenticeship journey

Emma Ramsdale, aged 46, is a Procurement Project Support Assistant and is currently doing her Procurement Apprenticeship.

Prior to joining HC-One, Emma gained a degree in Hospitality Management and worked in the hotel industry as Duty Manager and in the Human Resources team, before moving over to working in recruitment.

She joined HC-One in May 2014, initially joining the recruitment team and later taking on a secondment in procurement during the pandemic. It was something Emma had always been interested in, so she was keen to take her next step in procurement and has stayed with the team since.

As part of her role, Emma was offered the chance to complete a Procurement Apprenticeship, which she is due to complete in March 2024. Not only will this enhance Emma’s understanding of procurement and put her in a better position for progression opportunities, but she will also receive professional, industry recognised qualifications from the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS).

Emma said: “The Procurement Apprenticeship will enable me to obtain a Level 3 qualification from the CIPS. It has given me a far greater depth of understanding of my role and what the procurement function does."

"After completing my Level 3 qualification, I am considering doing my Level 4 apprenticeship but will probably take a 12 month break to embed the learning I have already received." "The most memorable moment in my apprenticeship journey so far is when I did my first exam where I achieved 93% and realised I was perfectly capable of doing very well in my apprenticeship despite being out of education for nearly 25 years." "Completing an apprenticeship is a great way to obtain training and gain professional qualifications, plus it’s free. Whilst doing an apprenticeship is hard work, it is very rewarding.”

Lewis’s apprenticeship journey

Lewis Jackson, Chef at Rose Court, has progressed with HC-One since completing his Level 2 Production Chef Apprenticeship and embarking on his Level 3 Senior Production Chef Apprenticeship.

After leaving school, Lewis worked in a warehouse before joining Rose Court as a Kitchen Assistant in 2019, as he enjoyed cooking and wanted to pursue a career where he can make a difference and help people. Since starting with HC-One, Lewis has been promoted to the role of Chef after completing his Level 2 apprenticeship and starting his Level 3.

As part of his Level 3 apprenticeship, Lewis will learn about supervising the production of dishes to meet specific dietary requirements and how to complete, monitor and maintain food safety management systems, as well as identifying training needs and assisting in the recruitment of kitchen personnel. The Level 3 Apprenticeship will also continue to support Lewis develop his leadership skills.

Lewis said: “Since joining Rose Court, I’ve been keen to progress in my career and was proud to complete my Level 2 Apprenticeship. I’m now looking forward to studying for my Level 3 Apprenticeship and advance my knowledge and learning to be able to provide the best dining experience and personalised choice to residents.

“My confidence has grown immensely which helps me to cope with working in a demanding environment and I feel very supported by my colleagues. My leadership skills have developed and I’m able to work effectively with other colleagues to guide them on how we can provide a dignifying dining experience for residents.

“Following completing my Level 3 Apprenticeship, I hope to progress to a more senior role such as a Senior Chef or a support role such as a Development Chef in the future.”