While Sophie did not always find English and maths easy while at James Hargest College, having decided that she wanted to follow a career in the trades she did additional tuition in these subjects to enable her to pass them at School Certificate level.

She then successfully applied to undertake the pre apprenticeship joinery programme at the Southern Institute of Technology which she completed in 2002. During this time Sophie applied for an apprenticeship with Southern Group Training and was employed as a Modern Apprentice by Knock on Wood.

Sophie had her own Modern Apprenticeship Coordinator who developed an individual training plan for her which set realistic goals and timeframes to achieve them in. The Coordinator, Karen Hògh, meets with Sophie on a regular basis and is available as a mentor to both Sophie and her employer.

Placing apprentices with a suitable employer is a key feature of the success of the Modern Apprenticeship programme. Southern Group Training is the Modern Apprenticeship Coordinator for over 18 trades in Southland.