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# Apprentice celebrates completing qualification with Lichfield business despite coronavirus crisis
- URL: https://lichfieldlive.co.uk/apprentice-celebrates-completing-qualification-with-lichfield-business-despite-coronavirus-crisis/
- Published: 2020-07-15T06:47:00.000Z
- Updated: 2020-07-14T14:49:33.000Z
- Description: An apprentice at a Lichfield company is celebrating after completing her qualification despite the coronavirus crisis.
- Author: Lichfield Live
- Tags: Business, Education, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-07-22 18:14, News

An apprentice at a Lichfield company is celebrating after completing her qualification despite the coronavirus crisis.

Display technician Sophie Mead works at Central England Co-op’s business support centre in the city.

The 24-year-old has spent the past year making signage and displays for stores to allow her to complete the NVQ Level 2 signmaking apprenticeship.

![Sophie Mead preparing signage for a Central England Co-op project](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e3/90/e390c3da-0866-4d2a-8ffe-ca4999d7ce1c/content/images/lichfieldlive-co-uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/signage-preparation-cropped.jpg)

Sophie Mead preparing signage for a Central England Co-op project

> “I enjoy of seeing my work in store. I feel that the display department has massively helped create the new look and feel for our businesses and helped bring an idea into reality.  
>  
> “I’m proud to be part of that journey.  
>  
> “I have learned so many skills during my apprenticeship – and I’m sure I will still carry on learning more even when it’s ended.”  
>  
> Sophie Mead

After completing a degree at university and working in one of the company’s stores, Sophie decided she wanted to be involved in a creative, hands-on job and opted for the apprenticeship delivered via Walsall College.

She said the skills had allowed her to learn in a variety of ways.

> “I can adapt to a wide range of work environments, from the workshop at the business support centre in Lichfield, to a building site of a new store, or even conference venues.  
>  
> “Ultimately, I would like to go higher up in the business. I feel that relocating from a store to head office has helped me with this, as it has shown me parts of the business that I would not have had an insight into.”  
>  
> Sophie Mead

Central England Co-op’s display manager, Mark Allen, said Sophie had been a valuable addition to the team.

> “She has shown great dedication in successfully completing her NVQ – especially after completing the final part of the course during ‘lockdown’.  
>  
> “Sophie has approached all the tasks she has been given with great enthusiasm and has developed her skills and proficiency to become an important member of the team.”  
>  
> Mark Allen