East Midlands
Inclusive Growth
Commission

In her mid-50s, Joanne is embracing a fresh start through an employer-led, work-based apprenticeship at her local college, after decades working in her family’s business straight out of school.

She always dreamed of going back into formal education but found it out of reach due to financial pressures, childcare, and work commitments. She’s increasingly aware that her physically demanding job won’t be sustainable forever, and with an empty nest and more time on her hands, she’s made the bold decision to retrain.

“I had children, for one, and I had commitments with my parents, so I would maybe start something, but never be able to pursue it. [Now] I can focus, because I know I’ve just got to think about what I’ve got to do, and not necessarily thinking about whether my girls are okay or they need anything?”

As an employer-led programme, the ability to earn while learning was a game-changer. This made retraining financially viable, despite taking a small pay cut, but she ultimately sees this as an investment.

“The type of work I was doing, it is a heavy job, and while I can still manage it now, I know at some point in the future, by the very nature of the work, it may not be possible. So, for the last couple of years, I’ve been thinking, ‘what else could I do?’ And had drawn a blank until I saw the programme being advertised”

The course’s flexibility, with different pathways and taster sessions, has made the transition easier, allowing her to explore new options without feeling locked into a single career route, and reducing the sense of risk. Designed for career switchers, the programme provides a supportive environment where diverse experiences enrich learning, making it a space where Joanne feels comfortable asking questions and even making mistakes.

At the same time, she brings invaluable transferable and meta skills – like patience and teamwork – that younger learners often lack. She sees firsthand how retrainers like herself add real value, not just to the classroom but to future employers, by combining practical experience with fresh learning.

“You’ve got experience – life experience – because everybody coming in from school or university may not have that experience of a working environment, so that’s already [baked in]. So you’ve got that discipline there, and it’s primarily about studying to learn the skill and obviously be in the workplace with a more developed opinion, I suppose, of a working environment”

Joanne is less confident with more complex IT tasks, but has been able to tackle them head-on by taking an additional college module to build her confidence.

Joanne’s journey is proof that retraining isn’t just about changing careers – it’s about future-proofing skills, embracing new challenges, and proving that it’s never too late to learn.

Sophie has lived in Derby for most of her life, having moved there as a child. She’s studying at a local college and loves her course, her teachers, and the friends she’s made. But as much as she values the local sense of community, she doesn’t see her future in Derby – or even in the East Midlands – pointing to a shortage of things to do, limited career opportunities, and safety concerns.

“I love the people in Derby. I’ve met some of the closest people to me here […] There’s some good places [but] there’s some places I’d rather never, ever go to […] It’s a bit boring. After you’ve done [a few] things – you know, bowling, cinema, going on a walk – after that, the list kind of gets very, very short. There’s not much to do, you kind of just repeat the same things over and over.”

She’s eager to go on to university – likely outside the region – and is excited by the novelty and promise of independence in a new place. Longer term, she dreams of making the move to London, lured by the big city’s vibrancy. While Sophie hopes to live comfortably in the future, she doesn’t want work to define her life. A fulfilling career that gives her purpose, stimulates and challenges her, and allows her to travel and enjoy life is her goal.

But looking around Derby, she doesn’t see many good opportunities – especially in the more creative sectors that she’s interested in – and worries that too many young people don’t share her drive.

“[Job opportunities] are kind of limited, because you can’t find everything here. You can’t. Like, if you want to work in retail, there’s a lot [of those jobs] in town, but [otherwise] you’re not gonna find it here, really, in my eyes.”

She and her friends have noticed a sense of decline in their area, epitomised by the closure of the local youth centre that she used to visit every Friday with her sister. With fewer places to go and not much to do, she believes many young people are losing a sense of identity, motivation and discipline. On top of this, she feels like outreach and engagement from public and civic bodies – like politicians or the police – have dwindled, reducing people’s sense of civic duty or belonging.

She feels that politicians don’t listen enough, especially to young people like her, and keep missing the point. While politicians fixate on investment and regeneration, she thinks theses are surface-level sticking plasters, and that the real problems run deeper. Chief among them, the cost of living, decent housing, and opportunities for young people. Yes, Derby could do with more green spaces and some revitalisation, but she thinks it’ll take more than a lick of paint to make it somewhere people want to stay and build a future.

“In Derby right now, they’re putting up new buildings and everything, trying to make it look aesthetically better. Well, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s gonna be better […] Derby is going downhill, but no one’s doing anything […] it’s not just going to take renovations.”

For Sophie, Derby will always be home, but it’s not where she sees herself long-term.