Perseverance to Success: Supporting an Apprenticeship Journey – Blackpool Sixth Form

June 22, 2026

At Blackpool Sixth Form College, the Careers Team is committed to providing personalised, high-quality support to help every student achieve their ambitions. Lidia’s journey is a powerful example of how targeted guidance, resilience and the right resources can lead to great outcomes.

At the start of Year 13, Lidia approached the Careers Team seeking support to secure an apprenticeship in finance or accounting. Lidia was willing to take any level, anywhere, but was really shy and struggled with interviews and applications. Tracey and Amy from the Careers Team supported her with application writing, interview preparation, and exploring opportunities within the finance and accounting sector. Mock interviews and confidence-building activities played a key role in her development, while resources from Amazing Apprenticeships including the Apprenticeship Arcade and vacancy listings, helped her to better understand the apprenticeship landscape and identify suitable roles.

Lidia persevered with real determination, completing over 20 applications and interviews, but was pipped to the post each time by older or more experienced candidates.

Last week, that all changed.

She has been offered a degree apprenticeship with Armstrong Watson, a leading accountancy and financial planning firm that has been supporting, advising and protecting clients across the North of England and Scotland for over 155 years.

Her message to other young people? 

“If you have a dream, just keep going and don’t give up, even if you feel like it! You are more likely to be offered one of your later applications, because you have practiced more and had experience in other apprenticeship interviews and gained more confidence. So, don’t just stop at one or two applications, start early. And don’t pass up opportunities to do work experience, mock interviews or use websites to help you and most importantly, ALWAYS ask for help, even if you think you can do it alone.”

She’s also feeling more determined than ever to pass her A-levels now she has a secure goal to work towards. Well done, Lidia, we couldn’t be prouder!