- February 13, 2026
This National Apprenticeship Week, we’re celebrating the value apprenticeships bring – not only to organisations – but to the individuals who choose this pathway to build meaningful, long-term careers.
At SBFM, apprenticeships open the door for colleagues to gain hands-on experience, build confidence, and unlock genuine progression opportunities across the business.
We spoke to three colleagues at different stages of their apprenticeship journeys to understand how the experience has shaped their development and future ambitions.
Maclain Simpson, our Assistant Management Accountant, completed his AAT Level 2 apprenticeship in March 2022 and went on to achieve AAT Level 3 in July 2025. Alex Bottjer, Area Manager for the PureGym contract within our Hospitality and Leisure division, is currently undertaking his CMI Level 5 Inclusive Leader apprenticeship, which began in December 2025. Chris Niland, our Operations Administrator, completed his Level 3 Business Administration apprenticeship in May 2025.
Maclain Simpson
Assistant Management Accountant
AAT Level 2 & 3 (March 2022 – July 2025)
After studying Economics, Business and History at A-Level, Maclain identified accountancy as a natural career path aligned with both his strengths and interests.
What stood out most during his apprenticeship was the ability to apply learning directly to his day-to-day responsibilities. Studying towards AAT qualifications while working in finance meant theory and practice developed side by side, deepening his understanding and making every module immediately relevant.
Throughout his programme, Maclain gained exposure to all core finance functions, including accounts payable, accounts receivable and credit control. He developed technical capabilities such as posting invoices, completing reconciliations, managing leases and processing expenses – building a well-rounded understanding of how finance supports the wider business.
Alongside technical development, he strengthened his organisational skills, time management and ability to work independently. The combination of structured learning and practical experience significantly increased his confidence, enabling him to take ownership of tasks and contribute meaningfully to discussions within the team.
Completing his apprenticeship provided a strong accounting foundation and supported his progression into his current role as Assistant Management Accountant. He is now continuing his professional development by studying CIMA, working towards becoming a Chartered Management Accountant.
Maclain highly recommends apprenticeship to anyone considering it. He highlights the long-term value: gaining recognised qualifications while building real-world experience provides a powerful head start in any career.
Alex Bottjer
Area Manager – PureGym Contract (Hospitality & Leisure)
CMI Level 5 Inclusive Leader (December 2025 – June 2027)
Unlike Chris and Maclain, Alex began his apprenticeship with extensive management experience already established. As an Area Manager overseeing 37 sites, he had years of practical leadership expertise – but no formal qualification to validate it.
Encouraged by his line manager and the learning team, Alex enrolled onto the CMI Level 5 Inclusive Leader apprenticeship in December 2025 to formalise and strengthen his management capability.
The programme has proven to be both challenging and thought-provoking. Early modules focusing on equality, diversity and inclusion encouraged him to reflect deeply on organisational practices and his own leadership style. Engaging with peers outside his immediate working group has broadened his perspective and enhanced his development.
While the academic assignments initially felt daunting – particularly the higher word counts – Alex found that grounding his work in real-life management scenarios made the process practical and meaningful.
Although still early through the programme, he has already gained a new level of confidence. The apprenticeship has strengthened his ability to reflect critically, consider different leadership approaches and lead with greater self-awareness. It has also encouraged him to step outside his usual remit, ask more questions and continue pushing his development further.
Looking ahead, Alex aims to complete the qualification with strong results and use it as a platform to progress into higher-level leadership opportunities within SBFM.
Chris Niland
Operations Administrator
Level 3 Business Administration (September 2023 – May 2025)
After completing his A-Levels in Economics, Geography and Physical Education, Chris was eager to step directly into an office-based role. He chose an apprenticeship route that would allow him to immediately begin building his career.
The opportunity to earn while learning was a major factor in his decision. Studying towards a business qualification while working within a fast-paced operational environment gave him practical insight from day one.
He shared that balancing full-time work with study significantly strengthened his time management and organisational skills. Having been exposed to both client-facing and operational functions also helped him develop strong relationship-building capabilities, enabling him to build a trusted professional network he now collaborates with daily.
Over two years, the experience shaped him into a confident problem-solver. Regularly navigating challenges in a fast-moving environment has strengthened his decision-making and ability to think quickly under pressure.
Since completing his apprenticeship in May 2025, Chris has progressed into a full-time role and is focused on taking on greater responsibility, with ambitions to move into leadership and management roles in the future. He credits the apprenticeship with giving him valuable experience early in his career and laying the foundation for long-term progression.
His advice to those considering apprenticeships is to take the step and embrace the challenge. “Although balancing work and study can be challenging at times, it builds valuable skills and resilience that will benefit you in the long run,” said Chris.
Building Futures Through Apprenticeships
These stories demonstrate that apprenticeships are not one-size-fits-all. Whether entering the workplace straight after A-Levels, progressing within a specialist function or formalising years of management experience, apprenticeships provide structured development alongside real responsibility.
We celebrate colleagues like Maclain, Alex, and Chris – proof that when opportunity meets ambition, progression follows.