Learning at Work Week 2026 – Meet Lysander Axel Armstrong

Learning at Work Week 2026 is all about the ‘Many Ways to Learn’. Recognising that personal and professional growth doesn’t just happen in a classroom.

Whether it is through learning by doing, coaching from a supportive tutor, or social learning with colleagues, there are so many paths to building new skills. We know that balancing a qualification with a busy job is a journey full of different experiences, so we asked some of our apprentices to share theirs. These stories highlight the various ways our learners have harnessed their own potential to grow, evolve, and succeed in their roles.

Recently we asked them to share their Apprenticeship journey, looking at the different ways they have picked up new skills and the impact this has had on their career so far.

Meet Lysander Axel Armstrong, a Apprentice Payroll Administrator at Cintra HR and Payroll Services.

Question 1 – What made you decide to take on an Apprenticeship rather than another route into the role?
Beforehand, I was pursuing a career in Animation and Art, but I didn’t like how that industry was run or how hard it was to find a job without connections. I started considering my next step, which led me to an accounting Level 2 AAT programme where I really enjoyed the payroll unit. I chose an Apprenticeship because my experience pursuing a BA Honours at university showed me that it doesn’t always set you up well for getting a job at the end. An Apprenticeship provided a clear opportunity to be officially employed after it was over, which was a huge relief compared to feeling pushed out of the university door without a second thought.

Question 2 – What were you hoping to get out of the Apprenticeship when you started?
I wanted to focus on my confidence, learning my payroll skills, and figuring out how to talk to clients so I could feel secure in what I was doing and prove that I can excel.

Question 3 – Were there any nerves or doubts going in?
I was definitely nervous thinking about whether I would still be good enough to be here after months on the programme. I also worried: will this be what I want to do in the end, and if it isn’t, what then?

Question 4 – What is something you have learned through your Apprenticeship that you have actually used at work?
Everything I have learnt I have used in my daily work. Learning how to calculate tax and National Insurance (NI) comes to mind first. I receive a lot of queries from our clients’ employees asking things like: ‘Why is my tax code different?”, “Why am I paying more tax?”, or “Am I on the correct NI category now that I am over state pension age?”

Question 5 – Has there been a moment where something “clicked”?
It was during my first quarterly review with my manager and tutor. They both told me that I was progressing really well and that my hunger to learn was a massive benefit to my apprenticeship. It was right then that I felt this kind of job is exactly where I can use my soft skills to my advantage.

Question 6 – How do you fit learning around your day job?
Always make notes! Keep a notebook, write everything down, and transfer it into your journal on OneFile so you can use it as a library of knowledge later. Always book out a few days during your quietest periods to focus purely on your apprenticeship work, and never feel like you can’t ask a “silly” question. Also, even if it feels uncomfortable at first, shadow others and watch what they do. Be a sponge!

Question 7 – What is the most useful support you have had?
Both my manager and my tutor have been excellent. My manager actually completed the exact same apprenticeship, which really helped because he could tell me what to expect. He is a fountain of knowledge and I’ve never felt like I couldn’t ask him a question. My tutor, Emily Schramm, has also been incredibly supportive. Having catch-up meetings right after our lessons really helped resolve any questions I had about the coursework or things I was struggling with at work.

Question 8 – What can you do now that you could not do before you started?
I have the confidence to answer most payroll queries with ease. I have even taken on the majority of my team’s payrolls when they have been off work, which I couldn’t have dreamt of doing without the knowledge I’ve built over the past year. Taking notes has been the number one thing helping me retain information and build good revision habits. On top of that, I recently had the opportunity to run a small meeting with my team on how to use our new NEST pension upload system!

Question 9 – Have you noticed a change in your confidence, your responsibilities, or how others see you at work?
I feel significantly more confident talking to clients and speaking up during lessons. Others rely on me a lot more now; I’ve gained so much knowledge over the year that members of my own team even come to me for support with pensions and other complex queries.

Question 10 – In one sentence, what would you say the Apprenticeship has given you?
The courage to try something completely new and be surprised at what I can achieve.

Question 11 – What is next for you?
Finishing the final stretch of my Apprenticeship and hopefully passing my assessments to become a fully-fledged payroll administrator.

Question 12 – What would you say to someone in your team or sector who is thinking about an Apprenticeship but has not taken the leap yet?
Don’t be afraid to upskill—you might be surprised by what you can learn!

Lysander Axel Armstrong
Apprentice Payroll Administrator at Cintra HR and Payroll Services