Wigan & Leigh College welcomed three-time Olympic medal winner, Matt Langridge MBE, who came into College to deliver an inspirational talk during National Apprenticeship Week.

The talk was part of a careers visit from Aldi (official supermarket partner of Team GB), who came to speak to students about career opportunities within the company including their apprenticeship scheme.

The event was part of a week-long series of employer talks held by the College at its Parsons Walk Centre, Centre of Engineering & Construction Excellence - Pagefield Centre and Leigh College for both National Careers Week and National Apprenticeship Week.

The Team GB athlete provided insight into how he achieved his bronze, silver and gold medals over the course of four Olympic Games.

Matt said: “The one thing I’ve learned is that there are different routes to where you want to end up and it’s about finding the best route for you.”

After winning a bronze medal in front of a home crowd at London 2012, Matt told students he was disappointed with the result.

He added: “We continued and persevered in order to achieve and for me to succeed I had to not be scared to fail.”

As part of National Apprenticeship Week, Aldi are delivering nine talks across the UK and chose to visit Wigan & Leigh College as part of their North West region coverage.

The supermarket chain, which are a 2017 Top 100 Employer, are looking to recruit 1000 apprentices by the end of the year.

They gave advice on different roles within the company as well as tips on interview techniques and applying for an apprenticeship.

Store Operations Area Manager, Clair Davies said: “For us as an employer, it’s hopefully opening students’ eyes to what we have to offer on our apprenticeship scheme and also looking at potential opportunities towards becoming a manager in the future.

Ruth Doyle, Regional Managing Director at Aldi, added: “There is a huge amount of retail talent across Greater Manchester, and we hope to have inspired pupils at Wigan & Leigh College to try their best to achieve their potential.

“There are so many opportunities available to young people, and without the right guidance and support, it can be difficult for students to know which career path they should choose. We relish every opportunity to meet young people, to ensure they have all the information they need to make the right career choices.”

During the week, the College hosted employer talks with several top employers such as National Nuclear Laboratory, ISG Construction, Vodafone, the Army, TUI Group and the NHS.

Anna Dawe, Principal of Wigan & Leigh College said: “Employer talks are a fundamental aspect of our careers and employability programme and we believe it is important that our students have access to a wealth of careers information, are inspired to aim higher and widen their aspirations.

“Wigan & Leigh College engages with a large number of employers to help shape the future workforce and ensure our students are leaving education ready for the workplace.

“We are so pleased that Aldi visited the College to discuss the wide range of career opportunities with a large retailer.Our students have really enjoyed the visit and gained lots of insight into this industry.”