A Leap of Faith at 55: Margaret’s Inspiring Journey
Changing careers can be daunting at any age, but Margaret Strong is proof that it’s never too late to follow your passion, read on to hear more about this career change success story in childcare!. At 55, after 22 years in factory work, she took a leap of faith and transitioned into childcare, a field she had always dreamed of working in. Today, she is thriving as a Room Leader at Clearly Kids Lisburn—and her career change success story is nothing short of inspiring.
From Factory Work to Childcare: How It All Began
For most of her adult life, Margaret worked in a factory while raising her three daughters. But once her youngest went off to university, she knew it was time for a change. She spotted a job advert from Clearly Kids Lisburn looking for nursery assistants—no experience necessary—and decided to apply. Despite some initial self-doubt about her age, Margaret was delighted to secure the role!
Around the same time, All Age Apprenticeships became available, allowing anyone working 21 hours or more in the industry to earn a fully funded NVQ qualification. This was the perfect opportunity for Margaret to gain professional training while working, setting her on a brand-new career path.
Studying with People 1st: Support Every Step of the Way
Margaret began her studies at the Dairy Farm campus, enrolling in Essential Skills courses in ICT, Maths, and English before progressing to her Level 2 NVQ in Childcare. With encouragement from her **People 1st tutors—Jennifer, Paul, and Kate—**and the unwavering support of her manager Shauna, Margaret successfully completed her Level 2 qualification and has now moved on to her Level 3 Childcare Diploma alongside Level 2 Maths and English.
💬 “At first, the thought of studying again was overwhelming. Even setting up Zoom for my classes was a challenge! But my tutor Jennifer Boyle was so patient and supportive. The staff at People 1st are so down-to-earth—it’s nothing like school, and that really helped me relax and enjoy learning again.”
Thriving in Childcare: Career Change Success with Purpose
Margaret has truly found her calling in childcare. Now a Room Leader for the 3-4-year-olds, her days are filled with planning engaging activities, ensuring health and safety, and guiding her team members. She also loves getting involved in hands-on activities with the children, such as:
🎨 Messy play (painting, slime, junk art)
🌱 Gardening (planting spring bulbs)
🛁 Making bath bombs and friendship bracelets
🚀 Outdoor play and exploration
One of Margaret’s favorite things about her job is the special connection she builds with the children. 💕 “They almost see me as their granny, and that actually works in my favour! They listen, respect me, and we have so much fun together.”
A Manager’s Perspective: Margaret’s Impact at Clearly Kids
Margaret’s dedication has not gone unnoticed. Her manager at Clearly Kids Lisburn, Shauna Broderick, shared her thoughts on Margaret’s journey:
“Margaret has worked for Clearly Kids, Lisburn for 3 years now. She is a great asset to our team, she goes above and beyond to provide a high standard of care for the children.
She is always keen to lend a helping hand, she has developed a strong bond with both the children and the parents and she is always keen to learn. We are delighted she is progressing so well on her Level 3 program.” — Shauna Broderick, Nursery Manager
Returning to education after more than two decades in a completely different field wasn’t without its challenges. Margaret initially felt nervous about studying again, particularly in subjects like maths and ICT. However, the supportive environment at People 1st and the encouragement from her tutors Paul, Kate and Jennifer helped her gain confidence in her abilities.
“I never thought I’d be able to go back to studying, but the team at People 1st made it so much easier. The classes are structured in a way that makes learning engaging and accessible, even if you’ve been out of education for years,” says Margaret.
The Rewarding Experience of Working in Childcare
Margaret’s transition into childcare has been deeply fulfilling. She finds immense joy in helping young children learn, grow, and develop in their early years. Her hands-on experience in the nursery has reinforced her belief that she made the right career move. “There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing a child achieve a milestone, knowing you played a small part in their journey,” she shares.
Her hard work and dedication have now earned her the position of Room Leader, where she mentors newer staff, helps implement learning activities, and ensures the highest standards of care in the nursery.
Advice to Others Considering a Career Change
Margaret’s story is a testament to the fact that it’s never too late to pursue your dreams. For those considering a career change, she has some words of encouragement:
Believe in yourself – Age is just a number; don’t let it hold you back.
Take advantage of training opportunities – Fully funded apprenticeships and skills programs can open doors to new careers.
Seek support – Whether it’s from tutors, employers, or family, having a support system makes the transition easier.
Margaret’s journey proves that career change is possible at any stage of life. She encourages anyone considering a move into childcare—or any new career—to go for it.
💡 “I had 13 years left before retirement, and I just couldn’t see myself staying in the factory. Childcare keeps me young, active, and happy. The days fly by, and I love what I do. If you’re thinking about a career change, don’t let fear hold you back—just take that first step!”
Looking Ahead: A Bright Future in Childcare
Margaret is now fully focused on completing her Level 3 qualification, which will allow her to take on even greater responsibilities within the childcare sector. She is excited about the future and hopes to inspire others to take a leap of faith and follow their dreams—no matter their age.
Her story is a shining example of resilience, determination, and the power of continuous learning. With the right mindset and support, anything is possible
Margaret, we are so proud of your achievements, and we can’t wait to see what’s next for you! 🎉👏
Interested in career change success in childcare like Margaret?
Are you thinking of making a career change or up-skilling in childcare? People 1st offers fully funded apprenticeships and training programs to help individuals like Margaret achieve their career goals. Contact us today to find out more! https://people-1st.co.uk/programmes/apprenticeships-ni/
Changing careers can be daunting at any age, but Margaret Strong is proof that it’s never too late to follow your passion. At 55, after 22 years in factory work, she took a leap of faith and transitioned into childcare, a field she had always dreamed of working in.
How our talented Joinery student Sé found success with the Apprenticeships NI.
People 1st apprentice Sé and his employer Seamus from Keenwood Joinery
Meet, Sé McCashin, (pronounced Shay) a talented People 1st joinery apprentice from Belfast, who joined our Construction Training Academy a year ago to study for his Level 2 Diploma and now his Level 2 NVQ apprenticeship. A past pupil of De La Salle College in Belfast, Sé knew that he wanted to learn a trade and after having studied Bench Joinery for GCSE, and although it took some persuading his parents agreed to let Sé attend People 1st, to go down the vocational route and train in the trade of joinery. As coming from a background where siblings were working in professions such as teaching, it was a challenge to get his family onboard with his dream to be a joiner, but Sé was determined to push himself and give it a go!
Starting with the Apprenticeships programme!
After joining People 1st, it became clear quite early in our journey with Sé that he had the skills and the focus and determination to go far. He listened, took instruction well and was very keen to progress and our joinery tutor Dean and Construction Training Academy manager Don, knew that he had the drive and ambition to become a great joiner. Incidentally our joinery tutor Dean, was also an apprentice with Keenwood so this almost is coming around full circle with Dean also teaching Sé weekly alongside the work at Keenwood.
That is a great thing about an apprenticeship as it is a work based programme where the apprentices spends the majority of their time with the employer to learn ‘on-the-job’. As part of Sé’s apprenticeship for example, he comes one day a week to train with People 1st in our hands on Construction Training Academy in Crumlin, and the rest of week Sé spends with his employer Keenwood Joinery, a specialist local joinery contractor, that specialises in high end joinery projects for a range of high profile clients across Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. Find out more here about our training and Apprenticeships: https://people-1st.co.uk/programmes/apprenticeships-ni/
Sé working on site at the new School of Management Construction Project in Stranmillis, Belfast
This current project showcases these high end skills perfectly as Sé, alongside the Keenwood team, are currently working on a range of bespoke joinery finishes within the custom built Queens University Management School- part of the Riddell Hall complex in Belfast. QUB Management School is one of the top business schools in the UK and Ireland and prides itself on offering a world-class range of undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes in Accounting, Economics, Finance and Management. The proposed building will extend and enhance the Riddel Hall campus and contribute to the on-going success of the Queen’s Management School located at the site. The expansion of the School will ensure that it is fit to serve the changing educational needs of a rapidly growing postgraduate community, who will prove invaluable to the progress of the Northern Ireland economy.
This project is being undertaken by established and respected local building contractors Felix O’Hare and as part of the internal finishing, there is a lot of beautiful woodwork and panelling, which the Keenwood team are responsible for. Director of Keenwood Joinery Seamus Keenan is delighted to being working on such a prestigious and landmark project in Belfast, which will showcase the talents of their team greatly and aligns with current project standards from the company on display on their website https://keenwood.net/
An artists view of the impressive facade of the newly constructed School of Management, part of Queens University Belfast
As part of this apprenticeship Sé has early starts on site, just off Stranmillis village at 7am sharp to get going for the days work ahead and he is always prompt and on-time which is a great thing for any employer to see “ as it shows he is organised, has a great work ethic and lets us know that he is taking his apprenticeship and the opportunity that it brings seriously” says Seamus. “ We are really delighted with the progress the Sé is making and he has fast become a valued member of the Keenwood team “. What sort of things would Sé been working on during a typical week at Keenwood joinery- he can cut out and fit complex ironmongery, he can set door frames and hang doors, he can cut and fit complex wall panelling, as well as do 1st fix stud work and set out, cut and fit decking along with soft wood and hard wood trims. Sé is more than capable to read and understand construction drawings and complete complex items of work.
How to get the most out of your joinery apprentice experience:
Sé too understands the benefits that working in a talented team like Keenwood brings his skills too – as with a workforce comprised of highly skilled craftsmen, they are at the top of their game and Sé is able to learn so many key techniques- “ the team are amazing and they always take the time to show me things properly, they make time to show me how to do it the right way from the start and this has really helped my skills come on greatly, they have been very welcoming since i joined Keenwood and I enjoy picking up new things from them every day on site”
Ray Sloan, a master craftsman and one of the experienced members of Keenwood has been great at showing Sé the technical skills of the trade and this has helped Sé progress so much on site as Seamus, Ray and the team know that everything they put into Sé’s development is returned ten-fold “ having an apprentice is an investment and it does take time to teach them and interact and bring them along but with Sé’s approach to work and his pleasant, ‘can-do’ attitude, he really is every employers dream apprentice. I would take another 10 apprentices on if they were like Sé” explains Seamus, which really is a testament to the standard of work and also importantly the positive attitude that Sé brings to site each day.
We were able to visit the site today and see the Keenwood team at work behind the scenes and be able to see the incredible business school project in the flesh. It really has some beautiful architectural features, which the lovely wood accentuates perfectly, and it is really going to be a stunning project once it is completed.
What lies next for Sé? Well Seamus is really keen for Sé to progress even further onto a Level Three NVQ qualification next with People 1st and this may even open up more projects for Sé over in London, as Keenwood regularly work across the water on larger corporate projects, via their London office in the bustling hub of the big city. Sé was also nominated for an Apprentice of the Year in the 2023 Awards and we will have to wait to next month to see if he is successful at that!! Whether he wins it or not, Seamus is convinced he is one of the best, and at only 18 years of age, as well as being the youngest on site, he is one of the best apprentices to pass through the Keenwood doors “ In my 45 years of construction experience and having tried well in excess of 100 apprentices, I can honestly say that Sé is the most accomplished of them all. He is intelligent, reliable, hardworking, willing to learn, capable beyond his years, good hands and understands the construction process. Sé is now a key member of our team and without a doubt will become a master craftsman.”
This is high praise indeed coming from a successful entrepreneur in the construction sector, such as Seamus, and it is clear that Sé has a really bright future ahead of him- through the apprenticeships programme, Se’s investment in himself and his learning, the investment by the Keenwood team in teaching Sé and also the tutors and support staff at People 1st, we can echo what Seamus said and it is clear that he will be one of the futures shining stars in this master craftsman trade and we are sure that great success lies ahead!
