A RESIDENT from Basingstoke said that an apprenticeship scheme will give him job opportunities he thought he would never have.

Martyn Carroll from Basingstoke has dyslexia and found school difficult so left at aged 16.

After a career in the armed forces, he is now working for South Western Railway whilst enrolled in a management apprenticeship with The Open University to progress his career.

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A national survey published by the university and The 5% Club showed 76 per cent of employers said apprenticeships were important to support individuals from lower socio-economic backgrounds to enter the workplace.

A further 83 per cent of apprenticeship employers felt apprenticeships helped to hire people who did not have degrees.

Meanwhile, 74 per cent felt apprenticeships had a transformative impact on the learner.

Martyn said: “When I left school at 16, there was no such thing as dyslexia, or it certainly wasn’t thought about.

“I was considered ‘non-conforming’ and not interested in the subject matter. I joined the Army at 16 and was there for over 23 years, from 1985 to 2009.

“It’s lighting that fire inside again. When I finish the degree apprenticeship, I can potentially look for bigger and better jobs within South Western Railway.”

Kirstie Thompson, apprenticeship compliance manager at South Western Railway said they value their apprentices.

She added: “Whether they are young people starting out in their working life or colleagues who want to develop and progress, our apprentices help to create a highly skilled, sustainable and resilient workforce.”

The survey, which was published this week, was carried out online by YouGov with 603 senior business leaders across the UK. Senior business leaders included chief executive officers, chief operating officers, managing directors, HR directors and HR managers with responsibility for recruitment and apprenticeships.

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Mark Cameron, CEO at The 5% Club added: “The 5% Club exists to promote positive employer action for increased, inclusive and accessible workplace learning for all, and we are delighted to partner up with The Open University to explore the insights and proposed employers’ next steps arising from this survey.

“The upcoming roundtable will bring to life action planning for success with a particular focus on genuine inclusion in recruiting practice. Improving access to training and employment opportunities for underrepresented groups is fundamental to addressing our national skills shortfalls, as well as reducing the high-levels of inequality in our society.”