Meet the pioneers earning as they learn: Christopher Achiampong

07 March 2017 -

At just 22, Christopher Achiampong’s enthusiasm and talent have already got him noticed, appearing as the face of the government’s ‘Get In, Go Far’ apprenticeships campaign

Elizabeth Oliver

Christopher Achiampong was on a formal apprenticeship pathway with IBM when he became aware of the CMDA.

The opportunity to gain paid experience with three different companies over three years, as well as getting a university degree from PearsonCollege London and Chartered Manager status, really appealed to him.

Achiampong now works in the sales system team at IBM, and has secured placements at Unilever and Tesco.

He has a busy schedule of presentations, meetings and networking, but loves that “every day is different”. Balancing employment and studying means “things can get crazy but you’ve got to make it work”.

Above all, the course has given him opportunities and access to “a world I didn’t really know existed”.

Growing up in a single-parent family in Newham, an area with “high poverty levels and deprivation”, Achiampong is “big on social mobility”. He campaigns for social mobility and diversity in the workplace, and is part of IBM’s Multicultural Network, sharing his apprenticeship experiences at events.

He’s also keen to raise awareness of apprenticeships among teenagers, going into schools to do so. He sits on the board of trustees and is chair of the EY Foundation Youth Panel, a charity that supports disadvantaged young people into work. He’s also a governor at his former primary school.

“The degree apprenticeship has given me the confidence and analytical thinking I need to succeed in the world of business.”

What next? Achiampong is excited about his next placement at Unilever and, after completing his apprenticeship, wants to explore a career in sales and complete a master’s with CMI.

Success seems highly likely.

Find out more about the Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship