A learner from Haverfordwest has secured an apprenticeship in Horse Care Management after careers support helped her choose between two very different career paths and find a direction she feels excited about.
After completing her GCSEs, Matilda Phillips, 16, felt unsure about what she wanted to do next. Although she had several ideas in mind, she struggled to decide which path was right for her.
“I just felt like I didn’t really know what I was going to do. I had a few options in my head, but I didn’t know which one I wanted to actually go down,” Matilda said.
Wanting some guidance, Matilda met with Careers Wales adviser Toni-Jo (TJ) Stables, who was based at her school.
“My initial interests were kind of between horses and then beauty,” Matilda said. “TJ helped me find out where I actually wanted to go and what to do.”
Together, they explored the different options available, including courses, apprenticeships and training opportunities.
As she researched each pathway, Matilda began to realise that working with horses was something she wanted to pursue long-term.
“I decided to go along with the horse route when I discovered with TJ that you could do apprenticeships in college for them. Whereas I felt the beauty route was more of a hobby than what I wanted to do for a job,” she said.
The opportunity to gain practical experience while continuing to learn particularly appealed to her.
“I just wanted to come out of school and go and do something that I enjoyed, but still get a qualification and still be learning,” Matilda said.
Since receiving support, Matilda has secured a Level 2 apprenticeship in Horse Care Management.
“I’m going to do an apprenticeship with the same place I’m working with now. My own horse is up there and I know them quite well. It’s quite a nice place to be because it’s like a family business,” she said.
Now that her plans are in place, Matilda feels much more confident about her future.
“I feel like I know what I’m doing now and I’ve got a clear path. I’m not worrying about what I’m going to do,” she said.
Looking ahead, she hopes to continue developing her skills and qualifications within the equine industry.
She also encourages other young people who may be unsure about their future to keep an open mind.
“Definitely explore lots of different things that you may be interested in. It’s worth looking at lots of different options and doing research to find out what really suits you,” Matilda said.
“I would definitely recommend to anyone not knowing what they’re doing to go and talk to a careers adviser.”
If a young person is unsure about their next step, support is available. Whether they are considering university, an apprenticeship, training or employment, Working Wales can help them explore their options and understand what comes next.
Advice and guidance are available by phone, email and webchat. Young people can also access support 24 hours a day, seven days a week through Cari, the Careers Wales virtual assistant, who can help them find information, explore their options and navigate the Working Wales website.
