Sophie Owen, a light vehicle technician apprentice at Marshall BMW Hampshire, talks through her experiences as an apprentice.

I NOTICED that one of my school friends from many many years ago was featured in the Gazette as an AWE apprentice and thought I would share my story.

After my GCSEs I joined BCOT on a level 2 automotive course. We needed work placements to collect a certain amount of hours to pass the course. I needed 105.

So we eventually I got in contact with Marshall BMW in Hook, who said they'd take me on for my hours.

My first day was at the end on November 2016. I was terrified as I did not know what to expect and I didn't know anybody. I knew it would be different to college and much more intense.

After a couple of weeks I had settled in and was learning a lot. I worked over the Christmas period to cut through my hours. I worked with different people until I found someone who understood how I learn and I worked well with.

Even after completing my hours they were happy to keep me and I was happy to stay.

I passed my course with the extra experience gained in the workplace and also achieved the outstanding student award.

The boss, Jamie Steel, offered me an apprenticeship. And we awaited the contract.

In the August there was still no contract presented and Harwoods Jaguar Land Rover got in contact and invited me in. I went for a chat and was told that they'd be in contact soon. Sure enough, they gave me a call and offered me the job as one of their apprentices.

I was offered a contract almost immediately.

I spent hours of sleepless nights debating whether I stayed at BMW and waited for the contract or took the contract before me.

My loyalty to Marshall BMW got the better of me. I couldn't take what I had learned from there and just walk away after they had accommodated me for nine months. I turned down Harwoods and my Marshall contract soon came through and I signed without hesitation.

I still have the same mentor that I have had since March 2017 and can safely say that Marshall BMW Hampshire is a second home and, in its walls, another family.