Having failed abysmally to apply myself at the start of my A-levels, not long after my 17th birthday I joined the last entry of A/P apprentices. In the last 23+ years, I have been privileged to both work for and lead some truly amazing individuals in some amazing jobs in some great places. The skills gathered over the years helped lead to my new career outside the service as well. But without the practical skills and values instilled into us Appos at Halton (in my case) I don't think things would have turned out quite the same. Extremi Optimorum.