Leah Kennerley - Cumbria Talent Force

Q&A

— Give a short overview of your career journey after school

I initially planned to study Sociology at university, but I had a persistent feeling that it wasn’t truly right for me and that I was simply following the expected path that everyone around me seemed to be taking. I realised just a few weeks before my A‑Levels that university wasn’t the direction I wanted to take, which made it challenging to stay motivated during that period. As a result, I began exploring alternative routes and discovered apprenticeships.

I have always naturally taken on the role of organiser when it comes to events or trips, so project management immediately stood out to me. In June, an opportunity with Cybermoor arose, and after learning about the impactful and meaningful work the company does, I knew it was the right fit for me. I applied and was thrilled to be successful.

— What do you love about your job?

- Getting to make a real impact in my county - Innovative technologies - Working with a range of communities - Attending events both national and international - Making progress towards net zero and sustainability - providing solutions that directly help real people

— What piece of advice would you give to young people about finding their best next step?

Listen to yourself, even if the path you want to take looks different to everyone else's. Reflect on what you genuinely enjoy and what your skills are, and choose a path that's meaningful and motivating.

— What three essential skills do you think have helped you to be successful in your job?

Listening, Problem Solving, Creativity.

— What advice would you give to someone considering working in your industry?

Adopt a stakeholder-first mindset- Do things with the stakeholders, not just to them.

— What is the best piece of advice you have been given that has helped you on your career journey?

As an apprentice, it's hard to feel like you have authority to tell people to do things- but you do, so be as pushy as you need to be.