I completed an 18-month apprenticeship in Paragon’s Mortgages division, which consisted of four rotations between different teams. I spent three months in each of the first three teams and nine months in the mortgage underwriting team.

I completed my A levels and then spent a year working before applying successfully to the apprenticeship programme at Paragon. I much prefer to be hands-on and learn on the job, rather than to be lectured in a classroom environment. I spent the majority of my apprenticeship in the office and learning on the job. I felt it was important to learn the skills necessary to carry out my job by spending as much time in the office as possible.

Each month, I attended an off-site day with an external training provider. This included a range of different workshops, covering the skills needed to work in an office environment, as well as learning about financial services and mortgages.

I would 100% recommend an apprenticeship. In the current environment, real-life experience is much sought-after. By doing an apprenticeship, you’re able to gain experience whilst earning a qualification. You can build your knowledge from the ground up to gain a comprehensive picture of the industry you’re joining.