Mohammed caps graduation with top award

Mohammed Waqas Hussain, 18, picked up the award after graduating from Vision Express’s ‘Class of 2018’.

The teenager beat off stiff competition to earn his place on the scheme.

He has now qualified with a Level 2, Intermediate Apprenticeship in Health (Optical Retail), which is equivalent to five GCSEs. The award-winner has also been offered a permanent position with the Leeds Trinity store and will continue his career with Vision Express as a qualified optical assistant.

Mohammed said: “I applied to join the Vision Express apprenticeship scheme because I already had an interest in optics and was keen to find a career in this field. I’m more of a practical person and learn by doing rather than being shown, so I knew an apprenticeship would be ideal for me.

“I’ve learnt so much, but it has also changed me as a person, it’s made me more confident to talk to people, improved my employability skills such as being a team player, communication skills, problem solving and I’m a lot more self-confident. I’m so pleased to have won the Going Above and Beyond Award, it means a lot to me.”

Margaret Maughan, store manager at Vision Express Leeds Trinity, said Mohammed was selected to receive the Going Above and Beyond Award because “he is a real team player, who always goes the extra mile to support his colleagues”.

Vision Express’s 13-month employee-embedded programme was launched in 2014 and gives candidates the opportunity to earn while they learn. For more information see www.visionexpresscareers.com.