‘I successfully changed careers with an apprenticeship, more businesses should consider doing the same’
Posted on: 7th Jul 2025
Apprenticeships 
A social media enthusiast who ditched a career in retail to pursue her passion of creating content for a living wants more businesses to recognise the true value of apprenticeships.
Chloe Hayday quit her job as an assistant manager at Bicester Village to study an apprenticeship eight years after leaving school when deciding to change careers aged 24.
She accepted a role with recruitment specialists Shire & Wold Staffing who enrolled her onto a Level 3 Content Creator qualification. The programme is delivered by Oxford-based registered training provider Ignite Training and educates learners how to plan, action and deliver effective campaigns across social media, blog writing, photography and video.
After passing the course this summer, Chloe has now accepted a full-time role with Shire & Wold Staffing and wants her story to encourage more businesses to support new and experienced professionals in making successful career transitions.
“I had to take a step back to move forwards in what I wanted to do for a career,” said Chloe.
“Of course there were challenges. I was taking a pay cut and had responsibilities financially, but I planned for it and made it work.
“Two years ago I had no experience in content creation. Now, I’m confident in what I produce and have belief in myself and my ability.
“Having experience on the job has been invaluable to me and my development. Nothing compares to embracing the day-to-day challenges of a busy working environment and they have helped shape me into the person I am.
“I’d definitely recommend studying an apprenticeship to anyone who finds themselves in a similar position to what I was in, and hope more businesses consider investing in them.”
Before completing the apprenticeship, Chloe accepted the opportunity to continue her role with Shire & Wold Staffing with the option to develop her skills further by starting a Level 5 Operations Manager apprenticeship.
Her development comes at a time where all levy and non-levy paying organisations can access funds via the scheme to cover training costs, with training for almost all programmes funded in its entirety.
It means employers can upskill staff in areas where knowledge gaps exist without additional costs.
Chloe accepted she had become comfortable in her previous role, but wished to challenge herself and taking a short-term pay cut more than made up for the opportunity to develop new skills in an area that interested her.
“It was daunting at first,” said Chloe.
“I was comfortable in my previous role, and has worked my way up from sales assistant to assistant manager in a short period of time.
“I loved the job, but it wasn’t what I wanted to do for a career. Apprenticeship options were limited when I left college so I felt now was the right time to start a vocational qualification.
“My age was never a barrier – in fact there were people older than me on the course.
“But the support and guidance from my tutor Zoe meant everything. Zoe really was my rock and has a massive influence on me successfully transitioning careers, I cannot thank her and the Ignite team enough.”
For further information about our apprenticeship standards at Ignite Training, visit our dedicated apprenticeship standards page.
