Jake Edlin works in the Creative Digital Media & Sound department and teaches students on the Esports Level 3 course at Lancaster & Morecambe College, but his route to this position started with an Apprenticeship. 

Jake started off with a Business Administration Level 2 Apprenticeship with the Youth Offending Team in Lancaster, which he applied for through the Job Centre, after dropping out of university. He felt that full time academic study did not suit his learning style, and was more comfortable having a more practical, hands-on approach in an area that he was interested in, which at that time was Business Administration.

After the Business Administration Level 2 Apprenticeship, he progressed onto the Information Technology Level 3 Apprenticeship at Lancaster Farms Prison Service within the education sector. On completion of this course, he gained a position as a Learning Support Assistant at Lancaster & Morecambe College. Leading on from his experience of working with students at the College, Jake decided that he would like to broaden his horizons and applied for a teaching job abroad for a year.

I am now back working in the UK and teaching the Esports Level 3 qualification at LMC, having just finished a Careers Information, Advice & Guidance Level 6 Apprenticeship! I now teach Esports with in the Creative Digital Media department at College. The three pillars of Esports are business, sports and psychology, and due to my background stemming from the Business Administration Apprenticeship, this teaching role suited my skills set.

My favourite parts of the job are showing my students the potential opportunities available to them in the future. The number of transferable skills they acquire during the Esports course from learning about enterprise and entrepreneurship to video editing is second to none.

When asked if Jake would recommend the Business Administration Apprenticeship he replied,

Most definitely, as like Esports, the Business Administration course at LMC gives you a plethora of transferable skills which can lead you to your chosen career pathway. It teaches you the foundations of customer service, information and communication technology (ICT), administration, business, and soft skills such as effective communication, teamwork and organisational skills. It is the perfect starting point to your career!

If you’re unsure about which route to take, the best advice I can give you is to think of your long-term goal and set yourself SMART targets for how you're going to get there, and go for it! You have nothing to lose and by the end of it you'll have a qualification under your belt, and will have gained many new connections, experience and the confidence for the next step in your career journey.”