WHEN you think about apprenticeships, 18-year-old’s fresh out of school come to mind but Terrance Farmer is breaking the mould.

The former landscaper and groundworks sector worker, Mr Farmer now shoulders the responsibility of being a duty train crew manager with Greater Anglia after completing an apprenticeship with provider Realise.

Bucking the trend for apprenticeships, Mr Farmer from Barling jumped at the opportunity to take on a new skillset despite being in his forties.

The 43-year-old now oversees the daily operations of more than 800 traincrew staff from eight different depots as part of Greater Anglia’s 24-hour operation.

His role encompasses checking sign-in times, managing pay, tracking sickness and holidays, and other administrative tasks.

During service disruptions, he manages displaced train crews and liaises with train service management to maintain the live service and reduce delays or cancellations.

During National Apprenticeship Week, Mr Farmer has shed light on his journey.

He said: “My manager encouraged me to complete some training to progress and I took full advantage. I studied a Customer Service Level 2 apprenticeship, provided by Realise. The course was very tailored and gave me an opportunity to explore different departments and improve my knowledge of the operational railway.”

Terrence, who is blind in one eye, lauded his tutor’s efforts, saying: “I received a lot of help and support from my tutor. Colin Fisher is a true educator.

“The format of the tasks allowed me to explore each module at my own pace and in a variety of ways.”

Undaunted by the technical jargon and responsibility that initially overwhelmed him, Mr Farmer is now thriving in his new role.

He said: “To reach a point where I feel like a competent and key part of the fantastic team of very experienced colleagues is brilliant. My new role is mostly people management so I can have a huge impact on people’s lives.

“I really enjoy the challenging, fast-paced environment. I’m really grateful for everyone’s assistance.”

The railway boss offered his advice for anyone thinking of taking on an apprenticeship.

He said: “Just put yourself out there and go for it.

“It’s never too late to take advantage of opportunities.”