Along with fellow trainees Andrew Cave-Brown, Robert Eagle and Andrew Fisk, Halliday was offered a professional contract in April 2006. All four, plus a further trainee Michael Spillane signed their professional contracts on 1 July 2006.
In the context of this passage, it is significant that Halliday and his fellow trainees received professional contracts in April 2006.  The signing of these contracts was a major milestone for them all, as they were officially recognized as professionals in their field.