Working full-time while studying for a master’s degree is a demanding way to spend two and a half years. For Amy Norton, it also became a route into professional recognition, greater confidence and a new role speaking up for disabled apprentices.

Amy was named Degree Apprentice of the Year 2026 at the North East Apprenticeship Awards. She completed Teesside University’s Level 7 Senior People Professional Apprenticeship, which incorporates an MA in HR Management, while working as an organisational development adviser for South Tyneside Council.

Learning that travelled back into the workplace

The appeal of the programme was its mix of academic and practical use. Amy wanted a recognised master’s qualification, but she also wanted to apply what she learned to real organisational questions. The apprenticeship offered both, as well as a route towards Chartered CIPD status.

Teaching was delivered through a blended . That allowed Amy to meet apprentices from several sectors and compare how different organisations approached people management. She credited both fellow students and university lecturers with helping her through the course, alongside the backing of her employer.

There was another important turning point during her first semester. After contacting Teesside University’s disability support team, Amy was with dyslexia. Understanding the reason some aspects of study had felt unusually difficult helped her identify the support and working methods she needed.

Turning personal experience into wider

Amy went on to join the Disability Apprentice Network. Through the network, she has taken part in roundtable discussions at Westminster, sharing the experiences of disabled apprentices with and members of the House of Lords.

Her course also took her further afield. A month-long summer programme in Brazil widened her understanding of workplace cultures and gave her an international experience alongside the job and degree.

The regional award recognised the whole of that journey, not simply a set of marks. Amy said the course had encouraged her to think more critically and move beyond her comfort zone when dealing with complex workplace issues. She now plans to continue advocating for disabled people and apprentices after completing her end-point assessment.

Her advice to people considering an apprenticeship is straightforward: do not rule yourself out. Support can come from employers, tutors, mentors and other apprentices, and the learning can open doors both inside and outside the workplace.

: Amy’s course, award and personal account were checked against Teesside University’s report of 5 August 2026. Image: Teesside University.