In this article Andrew Wood, Director at CGI UK, outlines why STEM apprenticeships should be recognised as a credible and valuable career route. Drawing on his own early career experience, he highlights their effectiveness as a direct, results-driven pathway into meaningful technical roles — not simply an alternative to university, read on to find out more.

August 2025

It’s results season. GCSEs. A-Levels. Nerves, relief, disappointment, confusion. A moment where everything feels decided and often isn’t.

Every year around this time I think about the paths that don’t get talked about enough. The ones that might start with disappointment but end up building real capability, confidence and careers. This year I'm actually committing those thoughts to paper and sharing my personal experience of university failure and subsequent redemption. Apprenticeships, especially in STEM, aren’t just a way in. These qualifications deserve to be seen for the value they bring, not just the route they take.

I started on the standard route of university, proud to be the first in my family to go off on an adventure to become an Aeronautical Engineer. I left when I failed a module resit at the end of my first year. Uni was great, but it became clear it wasn’t the right place for me to thrive. I was surviving, not progressing. It was uncomfortable, but it put me on the right path.

Through a stroke of good fortune I got onto a STEM apprenticeship in electrical and electronic engineering at what was then the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. It was practical, grounded and challenging.

What it taught me went far beyond the technical:

  • Curiosity over certainty
  • Problem-solving under pressure
  • Accountability when things have to work or when they break, especially if you broke them
  • A mindset I’ve carried ever since focused on honesty, pragmatism and transparency

Since then I’ve worked across countries and sectors and now lead large scale digital transformation for UK government clients at CGI UK. I see the same traits in the strongest people I work with and in the apprentices we support today.

If we want a workforce full of capable, curious, resilient people we need to celebrate all the paths that bring embodied curiosity, ambition and resilience into the workplace. STEM apprenticeships aren’t a backup plan. They’re a legitimate, powerful route into meaningful work, especially for those who learn best by doing.

If you’re figuring out what comes next or advising someone who is, remember: the straight path isn’t always the most interesting or rewarding.

We’ll be kicking off our next wave of student events later this year, timed with the launch of our F26 early careers campaign in September.

If you want to see what this path can look like in technology landscapes, take a look at CGI’s Degree Apprenticeship Programme or explore the broader options at the UK Government Apprenticeship portal.