Sam completed his studies at Mary Hare in 2025 and has since then embarked on his career path through an apprenticeship. He shares with us what inspired him to take this route and how he is enjoying his time so far.
What apprenticeship are you currently studying for, and where?
I am an apprentice lines person with SSE, the electricity network company. This involves learning how to repair and maintain overhead power lines. I am based in Theale near Reading but we do jobs all over the Thames Valley. The apprenticeship is for three years.
What does your apprenticeship involve on a day-to-day basis?
I am in the reactive team so we do different jobs in different locations every day. I spend the day with experienced lines people going to different jobs on the network, to inspect the network, fix faults and help customers. I help the team as much as I can and I learn from them on the job. I do training at the SSE training centres and will also be going to an industry college in Somerset later this month.
What aspects of what you’re doing now do you enjoy the most, and why?
I wanted a job with variety which was practical and working in different locations, not an office job. This apprenticeship is definitely that. Our jobs are different every day and we are out and about all the time. I look forward to progressing with my training so I can take on more tasks - we have to be properly trained on each task before we can do it.
When did you first become interested in the subject/apprenticeship you're pursuing now? Why did you choose it?
I wanted a practical job and a job where I moved around. I did work experience in Year 10 with an electrical firm in Newbury which I enjoyed, and this got me interested in working in the electricity sector. I wanted an apprenticeship with a big local company as I knew I would learn a lot and thought I would be supported, and SSE is a good company to work for.
How did Mary Hare School or Sixth Form help you prepare for life after school, academically and personally?
The careers team helped me research companies and prepare for interviews. My teachers helped me in my subjects and to get good results which was important to give me the best chance of getting an apprenticeship. Speech and Language helped me prepare for communicating in a hearing world.
How did you find the transition into your apprenticeship environment?
I have enjoyed working at SSE and look forward to learning more as my training develops. I had to get more used to communicating with hearing people, and the teams I work with had to get used to communicating with a deaf team member. My manager sat down with me early on to talk about my deafness and how SSE could support me, which helped my transition. All my team mates understand my deafness now, and I've even taught them a few BSL signs!
National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) is an annual week-long celebration of apprenticeships, which aims to shine a light on the amazing work being undertaken by apprentices, employers and training providers across England.
If you would like to find out more about apprenticeships, visit Amazing Apprenticeships’ Student zone: amazingapprenticeships.com/zones/student/ and explore a wide range of information and resources.
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