Meet Boe - Our very first apprentice!

Boe started her apprenticeship with us in September. She is our very first apprentice, and she started at a time of huge change and excitement for the organisation. Boe stepped into that moment with courage and commitment.

This case study was written as part of Boe’s coursework and she has very kindly agreed to let us share it. Thank you Boe!

I’m Boe, and I’m over three months into a Community Coach apprenticeship at Northern Powerhouse Boxing Academy.

Before starting my apprenticeship, life was quite difficult for me. I found school very stressful and missed most of the last two years. Although I completed my GCSEs, school didn’t work for me and I struggled to cope. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do next.

Things are definitely better now. Being at NPBA feels very different to school, and that’s why I’m able to turn up, enjoy what I’m doing and keep going every day.

I’ve been involved with NPBA for a long time. I first came to their sessions around six years ago. I’ve always been sporty, and boxing was something I really enjoyed. PE was the one thing I liked at secondary school, although that depended a lot on the teachers and whether I felt supported. I wasn’t able to do it as a GCSE though which annoyed me.

When it came to my next steps, college didn’t feel right for me. I had started assisting in the girls boxing class so the idea of an apprenticeship came up and it felt like the right option. I wanted something practical and active.

When I started the apprenticeship, I was more excited than nervous. I thought I would be too scared to talk to anyone, but I surprised myself by getting involved and speaking to people.

The biggest change for me has been confidence. I’m far more confident now than I ever was before. I do things I never imagined I’d be able to do. Talking to people used to feel overwhelming but being around confident people has helped me realise it’s okay to speak up and give things a go. You practise, and you get better.

A typical week at NPBA is really varied. I help out in children’s boxing classes, support adult sessions, assist with the Boxing for Parkinson’s session, help in youth club and do admin jobs like petty cash, registers and trips to the post office. I like that no two days are ever the same.

One of the responsibilities I’m most proud of is helping Coach Ryan by working with a small group of children as part of the kids’ classes. That was scary at first, but it was a moment where I thought, “Yes, I can actually do this.”

I’ve also learned a lot by watching different coaches. Everyone has their own style and I’ve picked up a lot of techniques from each of them.

This apprenticeship has helped me see what I’m capable of. I know that I want to work with people and help people. I'm not sure what that will be exactly, but I know the direction I’m heading in.

If there’s one thing I’d want to share, it’s that school isn’t everything. If you’re finding it hard, it doesn’t mean things won’t get better. There is life after school, and there are other paths that might suit you more.