Celebrating Surrey Mum Who Achieved Apprenticeship Distinction

Manager’s coaching qualification proves you’re never too old to learn during National Apprenticeship Week (February 9 – 15)

A Surrey mother has proved that determination and commitment can unlock new career opportunities at any age after achieving a distinction in her coaching apprenticeship while working full time and raising two young children.

Diana Waters, 41, works for a horticultural charity in Surrey and completed her Level 5 Coaching Professional apprenticeship through MTD Training while caring for her two children, aged six and eight. The qualification led to a promotion after a decade in her role.

Mrs Waters, who lives in Southampton, had been in her role for a decade when she decided to pursue the apprenticeship after seeing the impact trained coaches were having across her organisation.

“I became aware of coaching and the benefits through observing colleagues who are trained coaches,” said Mrs Waters. “Seeing them in practice have a very different, very effective approach to managing their teams and supporting other people across the organisation was really inspiring and made me believe in the power of coaching.”

Balancing the 18-month apprenticeship alongside work and family life required a significant commitment. Mrs Waters estimates she spent around three to four hours a week studying outside of work, increasing during the assessment period, alongside four to six hours a week of learning within work time.

“You need to be able to prioritise the apprenticeship for the next 18 months and it heavily impacts work and home life,” she explained. “But if there is something you really want to do, then make it happen. Yes, it is daunting and a big undertaking, but the higher the mountain the better the view.”

The impact of the apprenticeship was felt quickly. While studying, Mrs Waters secured a promotion after 10 years with her employer.

“I attribute my promotion to the apprenticeship because of the self-awareness it taught me, the development of my emotional intelligence and it gave me the courage to set myself a goal and to strive to achieve it,” she said. “As a result, I feel more motivated and effective in my role than I ever have done.”

Since completing the apprenticeship, Mrs Waters has gone on to coach colleagues across different sites, both remotely and face to face, supporting individuals from a range of teams. One colleague she coached said the sessions had improved their confidence, helped them explore new ways of thinking and develop greater self-awareness.

Christine Cusick, her MTD Training Skills Coach said: “Diana demonstrated exceptional commitment and growth during her professional coaching apprenticeship, which she balanced alongside a demanding workload and two young children. Her dedication to the programme led to significant professional advancement and a promotion.

“She developed skills in self-awareness, enhanced confidence and belief in herself, alongside emotional intelligence and coaching techniques to help others find their own solutions rather than simply providing answers. She was dedicated and committed to her learning, which led to her achieving a distinction in her overall Coaching Professional Level 5 apprenticeship.”

Sean McPheat, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of MTD Training, said: “In my experience, most people still see apprenticeships as something for school leavers, but the reality looks very different. The majority of ours are over 30, with the oldest apprentice being 59. Diana’s determination to balance work, family and study, while gaining a promotion, shows just how powerful that opportunity can be when people back themselves.”

Mrs Waters’ success comes during National Apprenticeship Week (9 -15 February), which this year focuses on the theme ‘Skills for Life’ to highlight how apprenticeships can benefit people at any stage of their career.

MTD Training specialises in leadership and development training for businesses looking to upskill their existing teams. The Coventry-based company operates nationally across the UK, offering both online and in person learning options. With 95% government funding available, businesses can offer their teams up to £9,000 worth of training from as little as £250, making professional development accessible for SMEs of all sizes.