Here at Middlesbrough Football Club Foundation, we're proud to be backed by key partner Coach Core, who facilitate the apprenticeship programme and help shape a unique programme for young people in the Tees Valley.
Specifically within Teesside, Coach Core allows us to provide opportunities for those who might otherwise not have had the chance to gain employment.
"What we've done, first and foremost, is create a pathway," says Danny Thompson, Education Manager at the Foundation. "Now we're guiding young people to that pathway in order for them to thrive on that journey.
"The support comes in many guises through the apprenticeship programme. That might be educational support from Coach Core through workplace-based mentoring.
"Our apprentices get a one-to-one mentoring programme, and then we also run a support programme for the mentors as well.
"Over the last 36 months, we've really evaluated what we were doing and how we were doing it. We looked at the system, making sure that the young people have the best possible chance of success.
"We're able to demonstrate, year-on-year now, that those young people are not only qualifying and completing their apprenticeship but are really excelling and going way beyond that."
Watch Danny's interview in full:
Middlesbrough Football Club Foundation currently employs four young apprentices as part of the Coach Core programme, each with their own personal mentor to help steward them during their 18-month journey.
Education Coordinator Martyn Ansboro is one of these mentors. For him, the journey has been two-fold, with professional development for both himself and his mentor.
"For me personally, it's only been very recently that I've been taking on an apprentice as a mentee. Prior to that, I didn't have anything to do with Coach Core, but it's been interesting getting to know what it's about with Lexi [who I mentor]."
"I was a PE Teacher for 17 years, and that's been Lexi's primary job, to get out and teach PE. So from that point of view, it's been very valuable.
"I'm learning new things all the time. It's something I was keen to do when Danny approached me about doing. I said I'd love to get involved."
Watch Martyn's interview in full:
As for the apprentices themselves, they're all relishing the opportunity of coming into a working environment every day.
The new cohort has been in post for the past four months, mixing on-field coaching sessions alongside classroom and office-based learning.
All of them have their own reflections:
"Instead of being so used to education as it is and how it's set, you have a lot more freedom," says Lexi Gibson, who has Martyn as a mentor during the apprenticeship programme.
"I've been going into primary schools. Some days it's PE, others it's interventions like maths and English, and then it's after-school clubs, but it's really interesting to see how they develop when you're doing that.
Watch Lexi's interview in full:
"For me, I struggled in school, so working in an office environment and trying to communicate with people you don't know, it's quite nerve-racking," says Ruby Emms, also on the Coach Core apprenticeship.
"But for you to be the strongest version of yourself, you have to challenge yourself. You have to be able to overcome that challenge or that fear."
Watch Ruby's interview in full:
"I knew I didn't want to be in college, I knew I wanted to be in the work environment," says Emmie Finch. "There's loads of support. Anything I need, I can just talk to anyone in the Foundation.
"I would love to get a full-time role with the Foundation. I always wanted to be involved in sport. The majority of my week is in schools doing P.E. I really enjoy it."
Watch Emmie's interview in full:
Find out more information on Coach Core and the sports apprenticeship programme here.