Apprenticeship Gave Joe Financial Security

On track for a sports degree at university, Joe Traynor’s family life was turned upside down when his mother suddenly passed away after a brief illness in 2018.   But the resilient young man found that an apprenticeship programme could help secure his future.

Joe, 22, from Bangor, was a BTEC Level 3 Sports student at South Eastern Regional College.   He said, “I was planning to go on to do sports at university but my mother, Linda, took ill and very suddenly passed away. Myself and my brother Jack, who was 17 at the time, went from having a stable home life to turmoil.   Right then it felt like we were suddenly very alone in the world and although we have good family support now, at the time it was like a hurricane had knocked the wind out of us.   We were grieving the loss of our mother and had to rethink what we thought was a straightforward path.     

Joe said, “I couldn’t think about going to university then and the focus for me was to get a job and start earning money to support us. I didn’t know what way to turn but thankfully had the sense to talk to the Careers team in SERC where I met Careers Advisor Julie Wilson.   She really helped get me back on my feet, making enquiries and finding out about possible job applications I might make.   It was through Julie and her colleague Ryan Wiseman from the Business Services team, who have tremendous links with local businesses, that I heard about an opening for a Financial Services Apprenticeship. Ryan put me in contact with Brian Shannon from Primis Mortgage Network and he helped me secure an apprenticeship with 14U Financial Solutions in Bangor."

Joe continued, “Right now I am doing well.   My life has taken a different path and I am on a new steep learning curve.   My role as an Insurance Advisor involves meeting clients and giving them advice on things like their Life Assurance, Critical Illness Cover, and Income Protection arrangements. Basically, my role is about helping families protect themselves against facing financial hardship, whether that be in the event of death, illness or injury.   I have personal experience of what can go terribly wrong in the blink of an eye. My mother didn’t have any life insurance so myself and my bother struggled financially."

Joe, who recently passed his Mortgage examination, is continuing his apprenticeship training to advise on mortgages as well as protection.  He said, “The plan is to continue working hard to develop myself as a fully fledged Financial Advisor.   There is so much scope for a career in Financial Services and there are plenty of routes to take in the industry along with the potential for setting up on your own as a Financial Advisor.   It is not all number crunching and there is great variety in the work.   No two days are the same as I am often out meeting clients to discuss their needs, office based or working towards the next step in my Apprenticeship.”

Joe concluded, “You often hear about apprentices earning whilst they learn, but for me, my apprenticeship has been a life-line.   It has given me focus and the stability to prepare myself for a career and a future which is somewhat brighter than this past year.”  

To find out more about SERC Apprenticeships, make sure to check out our Apprenticeship Week events, running from the 26th to the 30th of April. Most of the events this year are run online, with SERC hosting a series of virtual activities which will highlight what is on offer for young people considering the apprenticeship route, for their parents, and for employers who want to grow and strengthen their business with an apprentice.     

Employers can book to join our free information event for employers here - Employers - Ask Me Anything with SERC’s Apprenticeship Team Tickets, Thu 29 Apr 2021 at 08:00 | Eventbrite    

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