About Kayleigh…
University simply wasn’t for Kayleigh Hill from Cheshire. After two years studying Criminology at Lancaster University, she realised that an entirely academic route wasn’t what she wanted.
"Sometimes you need to experience something to know whether it’s right for you or not. This is exactly what happened to me at University. It did, however, make me realise that I am ambitious and that I want a career where I can grow and thrive. I just had to find the right one."
Meeting the IACS team
A job fair in Anfield was where Kayleigh met the IACS team. Open to learning about a role she’d never heard of, never mind considered, she was keen to find out more about the pipeline inspector apprenticeship.
Learning about the role
“The more I learnt about the role and the potential that comes with being a pipeline inspector, the more I liked it. It’s certainly different to the norm. It’s also a difficult sector to enter and not one that has traditionally attracted many females, so I knew the opportunity that IACS was offering was unique. There was no doubt that it was going to be challenging, this is a highly skilled apprenticeship. It would also test me in continuously meeting new people on different sites and travelling to new locations. But with structured learning, study combined with practical experience, support, mentoring and an endless list of future opportunities, I knew that it was the right decision.”
I love this way of learning
Four months into her apprenticeship and Kayleigh is loving it, she adds:
“I love this way of learning. You study and then you are on site shadowing and everything that you have covered makes sense! It’s intense, but I expect this as everything is new. Unlike my university experience, you also get so much help and support, not just from IACS and Hopwood Hall College, but the other apprentices too. We are such a diverse group, and with varying skills and experiences that means there is always someone that can help.”
When asked what she would say if she knew someone was considering this apprenticeship, she comments:
