Why Lara's just buzzing about her apprenticeship

Apprenticeships are a perfect solution for the Bee Farming industry, where the average age of a worker is 66

It's National Apprenticeship Week and so we sent GMB's own apprentice Alice Maguire to speak to another apprentice with a rather unusual job - in bee farming! Here's what Alice found out...

With a third of working graduates taking non-professional roles six months after graduating from university, it is clear that a degree is no longer a guarantee for a good job. Combine this with the UK's growing skills gap, and it becomes apparent that the need for industry experience to secure a job is growing. This is where apprenticeships come in - they allow young people the chance to develop practical skills within their chosen industry that cannot be learnt in a classroom.

Apprenticeships are a perfect solution for the Bee Farming industry, where the average age of a worker is 66. I went to East Surrey to meet Lara Manton, a Bee Farming Apprentice on the Rowse Honey Be a Bee Farmer scheme, which aims to secure the future of an industry that is vital to the wider UK economy and ecosystem. I had a brilliant afternoon visiting the apiary where Lara receives the theory side of her apprenticeship training. It was so interesting to find out how they care for the hives throughout the seasons and how many different areas there are to specialise in - from honey to pollination, queen rearing to candle making.

But, most importantly, is Lara's message to other young people - don't settle for a career that doesn't excite and inspire you. This National Apprenticeship Week, take the time to research your options, and you too may be able to turn a hobby into a fulfilling and rewarding career.