Careers That Grow: Investing in People Through Apprenticeships

Lee Ainsworth • February 11, 2026

National Apprenticeships Week provides a chance to talk honestly about how careers really start, and how they grow. In travel, there is no single “right” route in. Some people come through classrooms. Others learn by doing. What matters is creating opportunities, backing people, and building skills that last.

At Advantage Travel Partnership, we see every day how investing in people strengthens businesses and the wider industry. From supporting members to bring new talent into their teams, to working with trusted training partners to build skills and confidence, developing people is a big part of how we support our network.

In this blog Lee Ainsworth, our Membership & Strategy Director shares his own journey into travel, what apprenticeships have given him, and why investing in people is one of the most important things our industry can do for the future.

The Beginning Of My Travel Career

National Apprenticeships Week always gets me thinking about how careers really start, how they progress, and how different the journey can look for everyone.

My own career in travel started back in 2009, after dropping out of college and going travelling, a decision that felt unnerving at the time but one I feel confident in when I reflect on my 17 years in travel. The traditional, theory-based route of education was not the right fit for me. I have always learned best by 'doing', being in the environment, and by putting theory into practice quickly rather than reading about it in isolation.

When I applied for an apprenticeship, what appealed to me most was the chance to learn from the ground up. Starting in sales with a customer service focus felt exciting rather than intimidating and it helped me understand the industry from the front line by speaking to customers, solving problems, and building confidence through real work and lived experience.

Why Apprenticeships Matter

Over the years, apprenticeships have taught me something simple, yet incredibly important about people: that we all learn in different ways. Some of us just operate better when we can apply skills, knowledge and behaviours into practice in the real world, at pace. For some, an apprenticeship is a lifeline into the world of work. For others, it is a route into an industry they have always wanted to be part of. Either way, it brings out the best in people because learning happens in real situations, supported by structured education and guided by real life scenarios, not theory alone.

In January 2024, I took on a two-year commitment that has shaped my leadership and the impact I deliver today at Advantage Travel Partnership. For a long time, higher education felt out of reach because the classroom route was not for me, and I have always had a natural affinity for role based, real world learning and immediate application of knowledge. Not to mention, I love what I do, and taking a break from a career in travel to pursue higher education at university simply was not on the cards.

Taking on a senior leadership, level 7 apprenticeship and diploma unlocked the bigger picture of what it takes to lead with purpose and deliver long term sustainable impact for businesses. At the age of 33, it gave me the chance to remap my future and level up my knowledge, skills and behaviours to build a solid foundation for the next stage of my career.

The value businesses gain from in-role, advanced learning is second to none because theory meets real world scenarios and delivers immediate impact. From a personal perspective, it has given me an advanced toolkit of models, frameworks and ways of working alongside a fresh perspective and a sharpened strategic mindset that will stay with me as my career progresses.

For businesses, apprenticeships create real value when they are used to invest in people, not just recruit them. Putting structured learning around someone’s role sends a powerful signal that they are recognised, trusted and worth developing. That drives stronger performance, better retention and clearer progression for individuals, while helping businesses build capability from within.

Apprenticeships continue to offer advanced learning opportunities and support organisations to bring in new to work, next generation talent, as well as up-skilling existing teams. Employers in England with an annual pay bill over £3 million pay the Apprenticeship Levy, while those under that threshold don't. In both cases, businesses can draw down funding for training and assessment through approved providers where, in some instances the full cost may be covered.

Used well, apprenticeships are not a tick box exercise, they become a way of growing confidence, capability and loyalty inside a business. When people can see a future and feel invested in, the outcomes improve for everyone.