In Adult Learners' Week last year there was a first-time national award, sponsored by Pearson, for the Adult Apprentice of the Year. There were 81 nominees from across the age range and from a multitude of jobs. Staff at NIACE were keen to find out more about their stories so they analysed their nominations, asked for more information and interviewed a number of the nominees. What they found may not be representative, but it's certainly interesting. For the author, the most moving parts of their stories concerned how success had bred success, and what this had meant for their life outside work: their sense of self-confidence and self-esteem; the impact on their families; and their engagement with community activity. The author believes that what motivates most adult apprentices is a desire for a second chance--once they get it, the impact can be seen in every aspect of their lives.