Trevor Buchan

What do you do in the business?

I am the Apprenticeship Delivery Manager at CT Skills, supporting and leading the Childcare and AAT teams. I come from a diverse professional background, having begun my career in retail and progressing through several senior positions within the industry. At the age of 40, I made the decision to pursue a new career direction and moved into the training sector in 2018. I’ve loved it ever since, working my way up to my current role. The buzz of helping learners achieve is what motivates me every day.

What’s your background?

I come from a varied professional background, starting my career in retail and progressing into several senior positions. At 40, I decided to make a change and moved into the training sector in 2018 — a decision I’ve never regretted. Since then, I’ve worked my way up to my current role and discovered a genuine passion for supporting learners to achieve their goals. That sense of accomplishment, and seeing others succeed, is what drives me. Moving into training felt like a leap of faith into an industry I already understood, and it has proven to be incredibly rewarding and inspiring. CT Skills is a fantastic place to work; the variety keeps things exciting, and I live by the motto, “Every day is a school day.”

What’s the best piece of careers advice you’ve received or given?

The best advice I was ever given is that “as a manager, you dictate the mood and delivery of your team.” Every day, I make a point of speaking with the team — sometimes about work, sometimes about life — because it creates space for support, feedback, and trust. In any role, this holds true: you can make or break someone’s day, so be kind and offer support wherever you can.