Kicking off a career: Daniel’s Apprenticeship story (so far)

Meet Daniel, one of our Sportily apprentices who joined us in September last year. Discover how he’s thrown himself into every session, built his confidence, and grown his skills along the way.

"Starting my apprenticeship with Sportily has been an exciting step for me. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but I knew I wanted to get stuck into something active, people-focused, and hands-on, and this has definitely ticked all those boxes.

I’m really enjoying my apprenticeship so far. Every week looks a little bit different, which is one of the things I love most about it. The practical side keeps me on my toes with loads of variety; I can go from delivering PE lessons in schools to leading after-school clubs, youth sessions, holiday clubs and supporting events, all in the same month. Working alongside different members of the Sportily team has helped me learn how to create fun, active sessions, and I’ve enjoyed meeting such a wide range of people along the way.

The study element of the apprenticeship is great too, especially because it can all be done from home, rather than having to travel to a university campus. At first I found it a bit daunting being the one leading some of the sessions, but over time, my confidence has really grown, thanks to the support of my tutor and colleagues. I’ve learnt so many new skills — particularly around leadership and knowing how to coordinate a team to successfully run a session.

Looking ahead, I’m excited to keep building on what I’ve learnt, try even more new things, and see where this apprenticeship leads in the future.

If you’re someone who enjoys being active, working with people, and learning on the job, I’d definitely recommend giving this kind of opportunity a go, you never know where it might take you! My three bits of advice are: put 100% into what you do, don’t be afraid of asking questions, and enjoy it."