National Apprenticeship Week

As part of National Apprenticeship Week, we had the pleasure of welcoming back former student Saaleh Abenur, who is currently completing a Digital and Technology Solutions degree apprenticeship with Microsoft. 

At KHS, Saaleh was a Senior Prefect and founded the school’s Medical Society. However, after leaving KHS, Saaleh initially secured a place at UCL to study medicine. At this point Saaleh decided to take a gap year, where he researched and applied for various degree apprenticeships with top employers, including JP Morgan and Accenture. He advanced to the final interview stage with both companies before securing a highly competitive position with Microsoft.

To put this achievement into perspective, for each Microsoft degree apprenticeship, there are 4,000 applicants competing for just 14 spots – a mere 0.35% acceptance rate. Saaleh's hard work and dedication paid off, and today, he’s earning a competitive wage, gaining invaluable experience, and working towards a degree, all funded by his employer.

During his visit, Saaleh spoke with both Year 12 and Year 13 students, sharing insights into his application journey, daily responsibilities, and tips on using AI to enhance their applications. His talk was both inspiring and informative, encouraging our students to explore all possible pathways after Sixth Form, including apprenticeships.

We’re proud to have Saaleh back at KHS, and we hope his story motivates our students to consider the many opportunities available to them.