National Apprenticeship Week was an exciting and inspiring time at Bury College, filled with activities that helped mark the occasion and celebrate the exceptional talent, dedication and achievements of Apprentices.
Bury College Apprentice, Ahmed Mehmood, was recently given a brilliant opportunity to put learning into practice on a charity trip to Morocco with his employer.
Ahmed is currently undertaking the Dental Nurse (Integrated) Standards Level 3 Apprenticeship with Bury College and is employed by Whitworth Dental Care in Rochdale. The team at the practice, in collaboration with Dental Mavericks, have been participating in annual charity trips to Morocco, where they provide essential dental care to children in rural communities.
Using skills learnt to make a difference
When the time came to go on this year’s trip, Principal Dentist for Whitworth Dental Care, Navid Tahir, approached Ahmed and asked if he’d like to accompany him. Ahmed comments below:
“When Navid asked me to go on the trip with him, I was really happy. I felt like it was a once in a lifetime opportunity to use the skills I had learnt on my Apprenticeship to help people.”
In November 2025 Ahmed, along with his colleagues, headed to the Rif Mountains for a week, ready to provide dental check-ups, and treatment where needed, to over 900 children.
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“It was a very rewarding experience – both personally and professionally. I felt like I’d made a real difference to the children there and I got the chance to meet other professionals too, which gave me more confidence and insight into how others work,” Ahmed said.
“Ahmed was absolutely exceptional on the trip and it was a good learning curve for him. It was really nice to be able to mentor him through charity work,” Navid added.
Reflecting and looking ahead
Ahmed’s experience reflects the wider benefits and opportunities that can arise from Apprenticeships.
As he nears completion of his course, he reflects on his reasons for choosing the pathway and his next steps:
“I chose to do a dental Apprenticeship because I wanted to learn on the job and get familiar with a clinic environment. I’ve received great support from Bury College and my tutors have helped me stay motivated.”
“When I qualify, I hope to carry on working as a Dental Nurse at Whitworth Dental Care. I’d also like to take on further study, such as a hygiene course or the Oral Health Practitioner Standard Level 4 Apprenticeship course at Bury College,” he added.
The benefits of Bury College Apprenticeships were also recognised by Navid, who added:
“I've worked very closely with Bury College over the years and Apprentices have greatly contributed to the growth of my business. It’s fulfilling to see Apprentices learn and progress in the industry and the support from college staff is amazing – they are efficient, easy to contact and always go above and beyond.”
Learn more about the Apprenticeships available at Bury College here.
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