National Apprenticeship Week 2025: Success Stories
National Apprenticeship Week 2025: Success Stories
Apprenticeships have been instrumental in shaping Bloc Digital’s workforce, offering aspiring professionals a platform to develop real-world skills, tackle industry challenges, grow into key roles and form career success stories from the get-go.
We’re celebrating National Apprenticeship Week and more importantly the contributions of our Bloc apprentices. Their journeys demonstrate how structured learning, real-world application, and industry support can make skilled professionals ready to impact the future.
Apprenticeships have been instrumental in shaping Bloc Digital’s workforce, offering aspiring professionals a platform to develop real-world skills, tackle industry challenges, grow into key roles and form career success stories from the get-go.
We’re celebrating National Apprenticeship Week and more importantly the contributions of our Bloc apprentices. Their journeys demonstrate how structured learning, real-world application, and industry support can make skilled professionals ready to impact the future.
Ranica Brown (Level 3 in Creative & Digital Media & Degree Apprenticeship in UX Design)
Ranica’s apprenticeship journey has been nothing short of remarkable. From her initial Level 3 Creative & Digital Media course to a full Degree Apprenticeship in User Experience (UX) Design, she has continuously pushed boundaries in digital design and user experience.
Ranica added, "Taking the apprenticeship route has been a rewarding and transformative experience. At Bloc, I had the opportunity to complete both a level 3 in Creative and Digital Media and a Degree Apprenticeship in User Experience (UX) Design.”
“Throughout this journey, I’ve been able to progress within the company, share my learnings with others, and achieve recognition, including the Best Synoptic Project Award and the highest overall mark in my degree course.”
“For me, apprenticeships have been an invaluable contribution to my career development, gaining real-world experience and education. I'm excited to continue building on this foundation as I move forward in my design career. "
Her achievements were recognised when she won The Digital User Experience (DUX) Award for Best Synoptic Project at Manchester Metropolitan University’s School of Digital Arts in July 2024.
Liam Basnett (Level 3 IT Technician & Level 4 Network Engineer)
Liam’s apprenticeship journey began with a Level 3 IT Technician qualification and has since progressed to a Level 4 Network Engineer role. With nearly two years at Bloc, he has gained hands-on experience in IT infrastructure, cybersecurity, and network management, all while receiving continuous support and development opportunities.
Liam’s enthusiasm and commitment were recognised when he was nominated for Baltic Apprenticeships Apprentice of the Month in September 2023 and voted ‘Session Superstar’ as a standout performer in growing expertise.
Liam added, "I've been an apprentice at Bloc for almost two years now, first starting with a Level 3 IT Technician Apprenticeship, and now on a Level 4 Network Engineer Apprenticeship. It's been amazing from the start, and I have never doubted that it was the right choice. I've been provided with invaluable knowledge, and experience and have received an amazing gateway into the industry. Bloc has always kept me supported the entire way and it's honestly been the best choice of my life!"
Alex Collyer (Level 4 in Software Development)
Alex’s apprenticeship in Level 4 Software Development provided him with the perfect balance of structured learning and practical experience. He quickly moved from supporting tasks to leading development initiatives, gaining technical expertise and professional confidence along the way, quickly becoming a key member of the team.
Alex’s dedication and growth were recognised with the Baltic Apprenticeships Apprentice of the Month award in April 2022.
Alex added, "I enjoyed my time as an apprentice. It provided me with both the relevant knowledge and working experience for my desired job role. The real-world working experience allowed me to ask questions and learn in ways that structured classroom learning couldn’t have provided me with.”
“I completed a software development apprenticeship. It allowed me to focus on the technologies Bloc Digital used day-to-day to a more in-depth level, whilst gaining a core understanding of subject area principles and being given a broader exposure to industry technologies as a part of my course-based structured classroom learning.”
“I feel that the knowledge and software development experience I have gained working at Bloc Digital both during my apprenticeship and beyond have been instrumental to my career progression in ways that primarily structured/classroom learning alone couldn’t have.”
“As an apprentice, I got to work on real projects alongside my colleagues for clients, gaining more responsibilities as my skills developed and progressed. This started as completing perhaps 20-30% of a moderately sized project, progressing up to completing these projects myself (with support where necessary) and then working towards completing projects myself from start to finish, including quotation/planning meetings and meetings with clients as I progressed post-apprenticeship.”
“I believe the experience I gained from being involved in various aspects of a project has been a further help to my career that I couldn’t experience in the same way through traditional education. Even if I were to put the specific subject area knowledge aside, the support I received in a real working setting was particularly important, allowing me to learn in a more freeing way."
"As Bloc Digital had been involved in my progression throughout my apprenticeship, they have been primed to understand my progression going forward through my career. I feel this has a further positive effect on my career progression as my employer already knows how I want to progress and the path I want to attempt to take to achieve my goals."
AWARD WINNERS!!!
• The Digital User Experience (DUX) Award for Best Synoptic Project by the School of Digital Arts (SODA) at Manchester Metropolitan University (July 2024) - Ranica Brown
• A stand-out nominee for Apprentice of the Month (September 2023) and was voted Session Superstar - Liam Basnett
• Apprentice of the month (April 2022) - Alex Collyer
Here’s to more success stories with apprenticeships!Ranica’s apprenticeship journey has been nothing short of remarkable. From her initial Level 3 Creative & Digital Media course to a full Degree Apprenticeship in User Experience (UX) Design, she has continuously pushed boundaries in digital design and user experience.
Ranica added, "Taking the apprenticeship route has been a rewarding and transformative experience. At Bloc, I had the opportunity to complete both a level 3 in Creative and Digital Media and a Degree Apprenticeship in User Experience (UX) Design.”
“Throughout this journey, I’ve been able to progress within the company, share my learnings with others, and achieve recognition, including the Best Synoptic Project Award and the highest overall mark in my degree course.”
“For me, apprenticeships have been an invaluable contribution to my career development, gaining real-world experience and education. I'm excited to continue building on this foundation as I move forward in my design career. "
Her achievements were recognised when she won The Digital User Experience (DUX) Award for Best Synoptic Project at Manchester Metropolitan University’s School of Digital Arts in July 2024.
Liam Basnett (Level 3 IT Technician & Level 4 Network Engineer)
Liam’s apprenticeship journey began with a Level 3 IT Technician qualification and has since progressed to a Level 4 Network Engineer role. With nearly two years at Bloc, he has gained hands-on experience in IT infrastructure, cybersecurity, and network management, all while receiving continuous support and development opportunities.
Liam’s enthusiasm and commitment were recognised when he was nominated for Baltic Apprenticeships Apprentice of the Month in September 2023 and voted ‘Session Superstar’ as a standout performer in growing expertise.
Liam added, "I've been an apprentice at Bloc for almost two years now, first starting with a Level 3 IT Technician Apprenticeship, and now on a Level 4 Network Engineer Apprenticeship. It's been amazing from the start, and I have never doubted that it was the right choice. I've been provided with invaluable knowledge, and experience and have received an amazing gateway into the industry. Bloc has always kept me supported the entire way and it's honestly been the best choice of my life!"
Alex Collyer (Level 4 in Software Development)
Alex’s apprenticeship in Level 4 Software Development provided him with the perfect balance of structured learning and practical experience. He quickly moved from supporting tasks to leading development initiatives, gaining technical expertise and professional confidence along the way, quickly becoming a key member of the team.
Alex’s dedication and growth were recognised with the Baltic Apprenticeships Apprentice of the Month award in April 2022.
Alex added, "I enjoyed my time as an apprentice. It provided me with both the relevant knowledge and working experience for my desired job role. The real-world working experience allowed me to ask questions and learn in ways that structured classroom learning couldn’t have provided me with.”
“I completed a software development apprenticeship. It allowed me to focus on the technologies Bloc Digital used day-to-day to a more in-depth level, whilst gaining a core understanding of subject area principles and being given a broader exposure to industry technologies as a part of my course-based structured classroom learning.”
“I feel that the knowledge and software development experience I have gained working at Bloc Digital both during my apprenticeship and beyond have been instrumental to my career progression in ways that primarily structured/classroom learning alone couldn’t have.”
“As an apprentice, I got to work on real projects alongside my colleagues for clients, gaining more responsibilities as my skills developed and progressed. This started as completing perhaps 20-30% of a moderately sized project, progressing up to completing these projects myself (with support where necessary) and then working towards completing projects myself from start to finish, including quotation/planning meetings and meetings with clients as I progressed post-apprenticeship.”
“I believe the experience I gained from being involved in various aspects of a project has been a further help to my career that I couldn’t experience in the same way through traditional education. Even if I were to put the specific subject area knowledge aside, the support I received in a real working setting was particularly important, allowing me to learn in a more freeing way."
"As Bloc Digital had been involved in my progression throughout my apprenticeship, they have been primed to understand my progression going forward through my career. I feel this has a further positive effect on my career progression as my employer already knows how I want to progress and the path I want to attempt to take to achieve my goals."
AWARD WINNERS!!!
• The Digital User Experience (DUX) Award for Best Synoptic Project by the School of Digital Arts (SODA) at Manchester Metropolitan University (July 2024) - Ranica Brown
• A stand-out nominee for Apprentice of the Month (September 2023) and was voted Session Superstar - Liam Basnett
• Apprentice of the month (April 2022) - Alex Collyer
