Showing students what taking a non-traditional route actually looks like.
I visit schools, colleges, and sixth forms to talk honestly about apprenticeships, handling career curveballs, and building a path when you don't fit the standard university mould.
No corporate scripts or dry PowerPoint slides. Just relatable, direct conversations with someone who sat where they’re sitting only a few years ago.
Why this work is personal.
The Day My Teachers Stopped Helping
During my A-Levels, everyone around me was being steered straight down one conveyor belt:
GCSEs > A-Levels > University.
When application season arrived, I told my teachers: "I don't know what I want to do, other than I know I don't want to go to university."
The response? Complete radio silence.
They stopped helping me with future steps because all the focus was on UCAS deadlines and Personal Statements. I spent my evenings & weekends building bikes in the back warehouse at Smyths Toys, stubborn enough to know that university debt wasn't the only route forward, but completely on my own trying to figure out what else existed.
That experience lit a fire in me. I swore that once I figured out my own path, I’d make sure other students didn’t get left in the dark just because they didn't want the default option.
What Being an Apprentice Actually Taught Me
Securing a Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship (CMDA) in Operations & Logistics changed everything. Working across warehouse floor operations while studying showed me what having real mentors and practical responsibility could do for a young person's confidence.
And when sudden redundancy wiped out both my job and my degree halfway through, it forced me to back myself and start Office Mango out of necessity.
Students need to hear this reality. They need to know that messing up is fine, changing your mind is fine, and getting knocked down doesn't mean your career is over. Most importantly, they need to see that you can be successful by taking a less-traditional route.
"Going through school, I had no idea what I wanted to do. I was the shy kid who hated speaking in front of groups. Today, being able to walk back into a school hall and help confused students realize they have genuine choices is the most rewarding work I do."
— DillonHow I work with schools and colleges.
1️⃣ Large Group Keynotes & Year-Group Talks
Assemblies & Year Groups (Years 8 – 13)A high-impact, engaging presentation covering the journey from lost student to degree apprentice and business founder. Designed to open students' eyes to different pathways and what's possible early.
- Demystifying Degree Apprenticeships (what they actually involve day-to-day)
- The truth about earnings, debt-free degrees, and workplace experience
- Dealing with career setbacks, redundancies, and unexpected pivots
2️⃣ Small Group Roundtables & Interactive Workshops
8 – 15 Students (Targeted Cohorts)Intimate, informal sessions designed for students who are either entirely unsure what to do next or actively curious about apprenticeships. Gives quiet or hesitant students a safe, open space to ask questions they might not ask in an assembly.
- Open Q&A: salary realities, workload balance, and what employers actually look for
- How to stand out without a traditional CV (building projects and showing initiative)
- Practical guidance on finding and applying for competitive apprenticeships
3️⃣ Careers Days & National Apprenticeship Week Panels
Panels, Fairs & Employer WorkshopsCollaborating alongside Careers Leaders, Careers Hubs, and employer panels. Providing an authentic bridge between school expectations and modern workplace realities.
- Panelist contributions on early-career pathways and vocational routes
- Direct collaboration with Careers Leaders to support Gatsby Benchmark compliance
Book a session for your school
Whether you are planning an assembly for National Apprenticeship Week, looking for targeted small-group workshops, or need a speaker for a careers day across the Midlands:
Drop me an email with your school details, target year group, and rough dates, and let's get something scheduled.