As you may have seen, this week is Scottish Apprenticeship Week #ScotAppWeek20, led by Skills Development Scotland. This campaign aims to highlight the fact that there’s no limit to where an apprenticeship can take you; it creates talent without limits!
Today I sat down with Annabel, a Modern Apprentice in Business and Admin in the East Lothian Council Human Resources department, to as her a couple of questions.
What did you do before your Modern Apprenticeship?
When I left school I knew that I really wanted to go to Australia for a while because I have family that stay over there, so I worked part-time after school in a café to save up as much as I could. Once I was in Australia I wasn’t really sure what I was going to be doing when I came home, so I had a look online and I saw that there was a Modern Apprenticeship with the Council, and it seemed like a really good opportunity. Even if there is no job at the end, it can really help set you up for a job later on.
Why did you decide to do a Modern Apprenticeship?
In school I studied Admin and Business at Higher, which I enjoyed, and since it had been such a long time since I had been in school, I thought this apprenticeship might help jog my memory a bit! It’s also a really good qualification to have along with Higher Business and Higher Admin.
Why did you choose Business and Admin specifically?
Business at school really appealed to me because that’s where my head is at. Some people have a brain that all about maths, mine is all about business!
How did you find the apprenticeship at the beginning?
I thought it was going to be really stressful trying to balance learning and the job. When I first started the previous Modern Apprentice was just about to leave, so I had a crash course! It was overwhelming at first, but everyone is so helpful. I thought it was going to be stressful but it’s actually not and I really enjoy working here.
Is it hard to juggle the work and the learning together?
Sometimes yes, because when it gets to stressful points in the year when there are lots of deadlines it can be difficult to set time aside. But everyone I work with is so helpful and if I have work that needs done they’ll make sure I have time to do it.
Was HR something you were interested in going into?
I was actually just assigned the Human Resources department but actually I’m really glad I was!
Do you know what you want to do when you’ve finished your Modern Apprenticeship?
I’ve only got two modules left to go so I’ll be done around April-time. I had a meeting with my Manager the other day and we’re both really keen for me to get a job in the Council, or in HR more so, because I really enjoy the job I do.
What are the positives of doing a Modern Apprenticeship?
The qualification. And the support they give you. My boss has already told me that she’ll help me do mock interviews and help me apply for jobs, which will help me a lot.
What are the hard parts about doing a Modern Apprenticeship in Business and Admin?
It’s a lot of work. I would say that you have to be that way inclined. It’s a lot of written work and it’s very evidence-based, so you have to be motivated for a lot of written work.
Would you recommend a Modern Apprenticeship to other people?
Yes I would. It’s a really good starting point, so if you’re unsure about going to university and you aren’t sure what else you want to do, then a Modern Apprenticeship is a good choice, as it’s not as much pressure.
I would like to extend a huge thank you to Annabel for taking the time out of her busy schedule to talk to me and discuss the Modern Apprenticeship programme. I wish her all the best in her future endeavours after April!
If you’d like to find out more about Scottish Apprenticeship Week, please take a look at the #ScotAppWeek20 hash tag on Twitter. If you’d like to find out more about Modern Apprenticeships, check out the link below:
https://www.apprenticeships.scot/become-an-apprentice/modern-apprenticeships/
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