My apprenticeship journey: Tom Millican

Published On: February 14, 2025

Tom Millican

To mark National Apprenticeship Week, we caught up with Framework Manager Tom Millican, who enrolled onto a Sales & Customer Service apprenticeship at the age of 17.

Before Tom joined Pretium Frameworks he had a background in private sector procurement and worked as a Cost Management Specialist. In this feature, Tom talks to us about how his apprenticeship journey helped him find his feet as a practical and visual learner.

What was your apprenticeship in?

Sales & Customer Service.

What motivated you to choose an apprenticeship over other educational paths?

I struggled with the concept of not earning while building up university debt. I also didn’t feel like I had left education with any specific skills that would get me a job I was interested in, so I was drawn to the idea of earning while you learn.

In your opinion what are the benefits of apprenticeships compared to other educational paths?

For me, it was the on-the-job learning. I’m a practical and visual learner, so shadowing an experienced employee and applying my coursework in real-world scenarios was invaluable. Having a mentor guide me through tasks made the learning process much more engaging.

How has your apprenticeship helped you in your career development?

An apprenticeship gave me real-world experience of what ‘work’ would actually look like, and it gave me the opportunity to work directly alongside other people. The apprenticeship helped shape my skills and attitude in future job roles, encouraging me to adapt to problems and ask questions if I’m unsure of something rather than feeling like I should already know the answer.

Can you share any memorable experiences or challenges you faced during your apprenticeship?

Attending trade and county shows to showcase our products was a brilliant experience. I’d get to travel and talk to different people, setting up display stands and generating new business one day, then writing up my coursework the next. It gave me the buzz of being part of a team. I even got to go to Canada to see our products being manufactured!

What advice would you give to someone considering an apprenticeship?

Think about what you want from the experience—are you looking for specific skills or a broader foundation? I chose a more general apprenticeship, which gave me transferable skills for a range of careers. A specialised apprenticeship might narrow your options but provide deeper expertise in a specific field.