College apprenticeship leads to leadership promotion

Richard Murray

A Rochdale man who started out as an apprentice at Hopwood Hall College in 2005 is celebrating a leadership promotion at the College.

Richard Murray, 26, started as an apprentice for the General Admission Team at Hopwood Hall after realising that university wasn’t for him. After successfully completing his Level 2 apprenticeship in one year, Mr Murrary was delighted to become a full-time employee of the College’s Curriculum Support Team.

Still eager to learn, Mr Murray continued to study whilst working full-time; he gained a Level 3 qualification in Information, Advice and Guidance and also a Level 2 qualification in Communication. He also regularly took part in work-based training courses in his role as full-time Administrator in order to further his professional development.

His hard work paid off and this year he was promoted to the position of Team Leader for Timetabling.

Mr Murray said: “I’m proud of what I have achieved since starting off as an apprentice; the apprenticeship gave me the opportunity to gain useful employment-focused qualifications, which have been key to my successful time at the College."

Mr Murray is now studying for management qualifications – who knows where those will take him!