In a PhD research project investigating the journey of apprentice bakers, the term ‘proximal participation’ was coined to describe the entry process of young people with unclear career destinations into the trade of baking.

This paper begins the process of unravelling the significance of proximal participation in the decision making processes of young people who enter a trade via associated occupations. In the research study, all but one of the apprentices who participated in the study began their indenture after working in jobs associated with baking. These jobs could also be generically applied to other hospitality related trades. However, proximal participation provided the research participants with the opportunity to preview a specific trade not as a ‘legitimate peripheral participant’ as defined by Lave & Wenger (1991) but as participants who were outside the actual trade community of practice. An exploration of proximal participation may therefore contribute to a wide range of vocational and professional occupations whereby proximal participants migrate into ‘legitimate peripheral participation’ after initial interaction with the trade.

The paper concludes by discussing factors that may be useful in planning programmes which prepare young people for the world of work.

Keywords: proximal participation, apprenticeship, community of practice