Daisy Kelly (left) founder of Glow For It, demonstrating her products live on TikTok Shop UK Daisy Kelly’s business was inspired by a personal problem – for years she’d been pulling out her eyelashes. She hid her habit with lash extensions, but when beauty salons closed during Covid Daisy decided to create a serum to help her eyelashes grow back. She started Glow For It from her mother’s kitchen table in 2020 while she was a student and now her business generates £6m a year in sales. More than 40% of Daisy’s sales come from TikTok Shop UK and increasingly from livestreams. “I think live shopping gives people that connection and interaction that we’re all craving… We actually generated over £100,000 revenue in one 12 hour TikTok live,” says Daisy, 27. “It’s categorically changed the trajectory of my business.”

Ollie Priestley is not just doing any mechanical apprenticeship.

Working at specialist car restoration business Tolman, Priestley, 29, has embarked on a “heritage vehicle technician” apprenticeship. He’s learning the skills to work on modern classic cars that need a mix of traditional and new techniques to restore.

New technologies are enabling those techniques – from computer-aided design (CAD) for new vehicle components, to 3D printing them, as well as learning the intricacies of a car’s electronic control units.

“I wanted to develop the skills that allowed me to work on the cars that I love and excite me, like the Peugeot 205 GTi,” says Leicestershire-based Priestley.

“Getting to know how to make things keeps me focused and engaged. I’ve just fabricated a gearbox mount for a classic BMW. It’s cool to know that the things I create will bring the car back to life.”