A SALISBURY man has been reaping the benefits of an apprenticeship scheme.

Daniel Webb is an apprentice with Be Wiser Insurance in Andover and has been speaking about his experience.

The 21-year-old was planning on joining the army having completed an NVQ in plumbing at Salisbury College but changed his mind and enlisted in an apprenticeship to gain work experience and qualifications.

“At school I didn’t do as well as I could,” said Daniel.

“I now realise the importance of having good qualifications so I decided to do this apprenticeship which has given me a second chance and provide me with a career for the future.”

Daniel, who started studying for his NVQ in February last year, has already completed his Insurance Fundamentals course and re-took his English GCSE.

While studying, he has regular one-to-one meetings with his assessor who sets him study targets while guiding him through his studies as he works towards his final NVQ qualification.

“I’m already better qualified,” added Daniel, who is looking forward to his insurance career and already has plans to further his personal development.

“When I’ve completed my apprenticeship I plan to stay in the industry and work towards my diploma and advanced diploma qualifications.

“It is a win win situation; it has given me the opportunity to gain a free qualification, get paid and gain valuable work experience.”

Kelly Scanlan, the apprenticeship manager at Be Wiser Insurance, said: “We employ apprentices at a variety of levels from school to college leavers and we are already seeing the positive business impacts of our apprentice workforce.

“A recent internal study showed our apprentice team to be 28 per cent more efficient and productive than our non-apprentice new employees, but even more than this is the passion and enthusiasm our apprentices bring to our businesses.”

For more information about apprenticeship opportunities at Be Wiser go to bewiser.co.uk.