Apprentice returns to NHS as an engineer after it saved his life in a serious accident

James went on to achieve a Distinction in his Level 2 qualification and win a regional Apprentice of the Year award.  

His experience comes as new research commissioned by the Department for Education reveals that more than seven in ten adults in the North West (71%) believe people can successfully retrain at different stages of their working lives, while 79% believe people can continue developing new skills throughout their working lives. 

As applications open for the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE), giving eligible adults access to student loan funding for full higher education qualifications and, for the first time, shorter modules, James hopes that by sharing his story he will inspire others.  

Seven in ten North West adults believe it's possible to retrain at any stage of life as new flexible learning opportunities open 

• 71% of North West adults believe people can successfully retrain at different stages of their working lives, according to new research commissioned by the Department for Education. 

• Nearly four in five (79%) believe people can continue developing new skills throughout their working lives. 

• Lifelong Learning Entitlement applications open for loan funding for eligible courses and shorter modules starting from January 2027, helping people build skills around other commitments. 

As nearly half of adults in England (49%) consider a career change, new research reveals strong confidence in retraining across the North West, where more than seven in ten adults (71%) believe people can successfully retrain at different stages of their working lives. 

The findings come as the government's Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) is set to open up more flexible ways for eligible adults to fund their education, helping them build the skills to progress in their current career, move into a new role or retrain for something different, without committing to a full degree at once. 

The research, shared by the Department for Education through the Jobs and Skills campaign, shows that nearly half of adults in England (49%) are considering a career change, but for adults looking to return to learning, one of the challenges is fitting study around the demands of everyday life, with one in five (21%) nationally citing work or caring and family commitments as their biggest barrier to further study or training. 

The Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) will give eligible learners access to loan funding for shorter modules as well as full qualifications. Learners can study individual modules or build towards a qualification over time, giving them greater flexibility to develop the skills they need while fitting study around work and family commitments. It could give young people and adults who have become disengaged from education or employment more flexible routes back into learning. 

Covering a wide range of courses, from individual modules to qualifications such as Higher National Certificates, and Diplomas, and three-year degrees, to now for the first time also individual modules, the LLE will become the default student finance system at Levels 4-6. Applications for LLE loan funding open on Friday 30 October for eligible courses and modules starting between January 1 and August 31 2027.   

The flexibility will help people retrain, progress in their careers or return to education, while supporting employers facing skills shortages. Eligible modules will focus on subjects which align to the government's industrial strategy including economics, computing, engineering, architecture, health and social care. 

Minister for Skills Jacqui Smith said: “We’re unlocking learning so that it’s available throughout people’s working lives, not just immediately out of school. 

“If you’re interested in retraining, upskilling or finally getting the qualification you’ve never had time for at our world-class universities and colleges, I urge you to take advantage of the Lifelong Learning Entitlement. 

“It gives the flexibility to study a full qualification or module by module, pause when life gets in the way, and pick it back up when you're ready. That flexibility is exactly what a modern workforce needs.” 

For adults balancing work, family and other responsibilities, flexible learning can open doors to new opportunities. The experiences of those who have already returned to education show what flexible learning can make possible. 

The LLE will add another route for eligible learners to develop higher-level skills in a way that fits around their circumstances. 

For James Cooke, from Oldham, returning to learning helped him rebuild his career after a serious accident left him bedridden for almost two years. 

The accident interrupted his engineering studies and affected his confidence. Following his recovery, James joined the NHS and pursued an engineering apprenticeship, developing practical skills in machinery maintenance and fault-finding. He went on to achieve a Distinction in his Level 2 qualification and a regional Apprentice of the Year award. 

James shares: “A serious accident changed the course of my life. I had been studying motor vehicle engineering, something I really enjoyed, but the accident interrupted my education and left me bedridden for almost two years. When I was finally able to think about working again, I wanted to rebuild my life in a positive way and find something that gave me a real sense of purpose. 

I joined the NHS as a machine operator, and it was an engineering manager who encouraged me to consider an apprenticeship. It felt like an opportunity to return to the kind of work I'd always loved, while also contributing to the NHS that had saved my life. 

Through my apprenticeship, I've been developing the skills to maintain and diagnose machinery, combining practical experience with further learning. It's given me something to work towards and helped me rebuild the confidence I'd lost following my accident. 

I'm now looking ahead to progressing my engineering qualifications and continuing to develop my career. 

If there's one thing I've learned, it's that your circumstances don't have to determine your future. Sometimes life takes you in a direction you never expected, but having the opportunity to learn new skills can help you find your way forward again.” 

New modular courses to support Greater Manchester's skills needs 

Flexibility can also help people return to studies they began earlier in life. For eligible learners using the LLE, access to loan funding for individual modules will create more choice over how they build new skills, with opportunities to work towards a qualification at a pace that fits their circumstances. 

The need to develop new skills is also becoming more pressing as the world of work changes, with more than a quarter (28%) of adults nationally expecting to need new skills in the next five years because their role or industry is changing. 

Mark Harris, Dean of UCEN Manchester and Vice Principal, said:  “Talent and ambition should not be limited by whether someone can commit to a full qualification at one point in their life. For UCEN Manchester, the LLE is an opportunity to advance social mobility, and meet the skills needs of the economy, by opening more flexible routes into higher education. Modularised learning will provide us with greater opportunity to align pathways to local sector needs, delivered through flexible and accessible modes of study. 

“Modular learning has the potential to help those already in employment gain higher-level skills, opening opportunities for progression and better-paid roles. It also aligns with our commitment to develop high-quality flexible and accessible modular provision that meets the skills needs of the Greater Manchester economy as articulated in the Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP). 

“In January, for UCEN Manchester, this will be directed towards the construction industry (e.g., BIM solutions) and later extend into LSIP priority areas including engineering, health, business, finance and digital, providing more people across the region with the opportunity to access higher education that supports them to upskill, reskill and remove barriers to them achieving their full potential.” 

Dr Jo Saxton CBE, UCAS Chief Executive, said:  “Whether you're a school or college leaver exploring your options or an adult looking to develop new skills later in life, everyone should have the opportunity to access the transformative power of higher education. The Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) has the potential to open up more flexible routes into study, and provide a wider range of options that fit around people's lives and future ambitions. 

“UCAS is committed to helping students in England make the most of the LLE by providing clear information, advice and guidance, so everyone can understand the opportunities available to them and make informed choices about their next step.” 

Adults considering further study can find information to help them understand the LLE, what funding they could be eligible for and what to do next by visiting: Skills for Careers – The LLE   

Applications for LLE loan funding open on Friday 30 October 2026 for eligible courses and modules starting between January 1 and August 31, 2027. To apply: Apply for Student Finance