As National Apprenticeship Week 2026 enters its third day, the city of Hull is celebrating the success of 20-year-old Tyreece Moss, whose journey from the care system to full-time employment at a local family-run business highlights the transformative power of apprenticeships.

Tyreece, a former care leaver, recently successfully completed his Level 3 Signage Technician apprenticeship with the support of Hull Training and Adult Education (HTAE). He is now a full-time vinyl preparator at Matt Vinyl Graphics, a family-run signmaking company in Hull.

His achievement is particularly significant given the challenges he faced during his teenage years. Tyreece credits the apprenticeship scheme with helping him rebuild his life after the loss of his grandfather and his subsequent transition into the care system.

“My grandad passed away when I was 16 and he was the only person I had, so I ended up in care,” he explained. “When I was 17, I was living in supported accommodation and my carers helped me to develop my CV and then I attended an HTAE open event. The signmaking tutor, Mike Gooch, made the course sound really interesting and I thought ‘let’s give it a go’.”

Despite lacking his Maths and English qualifications when he started, Tyreece received comprehensive support from HTAE to achieve these alongside his apprenticeship.

“HTAE supported me all the way with this to help me to earn those qualifications and having that understanding and flexibility from them made such a big difference. It felt amazing to pass my EPA (End Point Assessment), it made those two years completely worth it and I couldn’t have done it without the support of the council’s care leavers team, HTAE and Matt Vinyl Graphics,” Tyreece said.

His commitment and resilience have been recognised with several accolades, including the Blue Diamond Award for outstanding achievement among care leavers and the Overcoming Barriers Award at the HTAE Learners Awards 2024.

Tyreece’s employer, Matt Vinyl Graphics, played a crucial role in his success, even providing him with permanent accommodation when he was required to leave supported housing at 18.

“I’m incredibly grateful that people believed in me,” Tyreece added. “My employers have not only supported me in my career, but also when I was struggling to find accommodation. They stepped in and helped me by providing a permanent place to call my own and getting me set up with everything I needed to get back on my feet personally.”

Lauren Nicholson, an accounts clerk at Matt Vinyl Graphics, praised Tyreece's contribution to the company. “We’re a family business and Ty is part of that family. He’s reliable, driven and always willing to learn. We’re incredibly proud of him and completing his Level 3 and winning those awards are testament to his hard work and professionalism.”

Mike Gooch, Tyreece's former tutor at HTAE, expressed his pride in Tyreece's progress. “Ty was a teenage lad living on park benches. To see him pass his EPA is extraordinary. This is the most rewarding result I have had in 17 years of doing this job – I had tears in my eyes and was full of pride.”

Tyreece’s story serves as a powerful testament to the impact of apprenticeships on individuals and the businesses they serve, particularly in regions like Yorkshire and the Humber where vocational training plays a vital role in the local economy.