Apprentice case studies

In all honesty I chose this apprenticeship because it looked interesting, and it was something I had never done before. I thought doing a Business Administrator apprenticeship would not only improve my knowledge but would also improve my confidence in this area of work.

I am only about 2 months into my apprenticeship, but I already feel like I know so much that I did not know before. This apprenticeship has already impacted on the work I produce for my team from improving my knowledge of SCC from research I have done for my assignments to improving the way I write and structure my work. I think as I progress further into my apprenticeship the work I produce will continue to improve.

I think there are many benefits of doing an apprenticeship. One of the main ones being the support you have around you. Since starting my apprenticeship, I have felt comfortable asking anyone in my team around me for help and they always find the time to talk me through something or sending me tips that may help with something I am finding particularly difficult. This is a big one for me because it makes me feel like I am never stuck and there is always someone to ask for help. Another benefit is “learning on the job.” This is helpful as you learn so much in just doing the role that you are in on top of the studying for your apprenticeship.

I would say just do it because you are supported all the way through it, and it gives you the opportunity to learn so much about something you may not have looked into before whilst also working and earning a wage. 

I chose this apprenticeship as it felt like the obvious next step, having completed a Level 3 apprenticeship just a couple of years before. I also felt that project management is one of the most dynamic courses as it will allow me to explore a vast number of avenues in throughout my career.

Project Management is not part of Business-as-Usual work for me, however I do occasionally have the opportunity to get involved with project work. Since starting the apprenticeship I have felt more confident on bringing knowledge to the projects and have been able to lead on structuring and steering them. This has been a massive help for my team. 

There are so many benefits to apprenticeships. They act as an opportunity to develop your knowledge and implement it to real life situations in the working world. Having 20% of your working week to study is a massive help as it means that you don’t have to spend your evenings and weekends studying. 

My advice would be to just jump! Having left education with no clue where to start my career, an apprenticeship has helped me massively in my early stages of my career. It brings so many opportunities to develop in so many different areas. You really do get a feel of what you do and don’t like. 

At the end of my time in sixth form, I came to a crossroads of which way to go. Do I go to university? Do I go to find work? I was overwhelmed with options. I came across apprenticeships properly when I decided to look at the options online and was surprised at the vast amount available (having been under the illusion that apprenticeships meant only trade jobs). I wanted to study a Geography degree anyway, so this was the best of both worlds - able to study whilst also making a difference.

I am very fortunate that my team wants me to succeed in my apprenticeship and so this means that my apprenticeship is always the main concern. For example, for the last 4 months, I have been studying for two days a week for my APM exam and was also given over a week for study leave before my exam. This put me in the best possible position to sit the exam and helped relax me throughout the process, knowing I had ample time to study. On a normal week, most apprentices have one day a week dedicated to studying, which can be used to do assignments, study, or log your off the job hours. 

My biggest achievement so far would have been when I was nominated and received the Young Adult of the Year award from the Young Adults Network at SCC. It was a great feeling knowing that my work and achievements had been recognised. This was also shortly after I had completed my first project closure which was for the Eastern New Energy project, so this helped confirm that I had done a good job! 

Being an apprentice has helped mature me and develop my knowledge vastly more quicker than I would have done at university or in a normal job. The learning side of the job, tied with the working, is a great combination and allows me to put theory into practice every day. At SCC, apprentices are also paid just the same as anyone else and much higher compared to the minimum wage of apprentices, so this makes it fair for everyone. I have also been given lots of opportunities to expand beyond my role such as being involved in a national campaign for green careers and apprenticeships.

Explore the options that are available to you and weigh them out. Some careers paths need different qualifications – if you want to be a doctor, go to university! However, if you are wanting to go into a field such as project management, take a look online to see what apprenticeship options are available in your local area or a commutable distance. The worst thing you can do is not attempt it! 

I chose this apprenticeship as it looked like the ideal one for my progression and it was recommended to me by those who are currently doing the course or have used the same provider.

As I am working through my apprenticeship, I have been trying to introduce what I have learnt into my every day working life. This could be communication, leadership skills and time management. Which in turn, will hopefully benefit the team I work with.

The main benefit of doing an apprentice is that you earn as you learn on the job. I have also found it to be a very helpful and stress-free way of learning.

I would advise them to speak to someone who is currently or just finished doing an apprenticeship to see how they got on and find out about the provider. Don’t worry about the time it will take up as SCC will allow you to do ‘X’ amount of hours a week to do your apprenticeship.