Josh Dixon is used to his grandmother telling him what to do. But now, he has more reason to listen.
The 18-year-old is an apprentice at Goldhill Adventure Playground in Leicester, and his supervisor is none other than his grandmother, senior playwork instructor Dee Dixon.
"We get on really well and she treats me exactly the same as the other workers," Josh says. "She encourages me to do well but if I get told off, it's that much more embarrassing because we're family."
Josh, who used to work part time at Goldhill Adventure Playground, always wanted to work in sports. He decided to leave school at 16 when he learned he could fast track his career by taking up an apprenticeship at the workplace he'd come to know and love.
"I'm a practical minded person and I was getting bored at school," he says.
Josh met with Leicester College NVQ trainer assessor Charlotte Coulson, who recommended he undertake the apprenticeship in activity leadership as it most closely matched his responsibilities at the playground.
An average day for Josh involves arriving at the playground at 2.30pm and setting up the site and equipment for sport activities. He will then lead anywhere between 40 and 50 children in a range of sports until 6pm. During holidays, he helps provide full day care for anywhere up to 250 children.
"Every day is different," he says. "Unlike at school, here the children get to play whatever sport they want so I've got to be ready and willing to instruct in a range of sports."
As well as gaining valuable work experience, Josh has achieved recognised qualifications including FA Level 2 football coaching badge and his first aid certificate. He put the latter to use at an 11 aside football tournament.
"Two lads banged heads during a game, which left one with a cut eyebrow," he says. "I kept him calm, bandaged his wound and made sure he went to hospital incase it was something more serious."
Resurrecting and coaching Goldhill Adventure Playground's 11 aside football team is one of Josh's proudest achievements: "They've now made the league and are doing really well."
After finishing his apprenticeship in activity leadership, Josh began an advanced apprenticeship in sports development. He is now working with the newly reopened Southfields sports centre to promote its activities and services and lead football sessions.
"I'm learning great skills, working flexible hours and earning money. It's great."
Josh reckons he's matured a lot during his apprenticeship - he's more confident, responsible and sure about his future path: "When my apprenticeship finishes next August, I want to start a University foundation learning course. Ultimately, I want to combine my interests in sports and working with young people and be a PE teacher."
Charlotte has no doubt Josh will achieve his dreams: "He's an excellent student, he loves sports and he's willing to put the work in. He has all the qualities to be a great teacher."
SkillsActive, the sector skills council for sport and active leisure, has designed the apprenticeship frameworks to help businesses train employees to a high level of competency and performance.
There are four types of apprenticeships available in the active learning, learning and wellbeing sector. They provide a mix of practical and technical skills that allow development at work and progression to further education.
To find out more about Apprenticeships in the sport and active leisure sector please see Apprenticeships
