We are celebrating National Apprenticeship Week between 7 and 13 February 2022 as we are truly proud of all the work that goes into this at Ealing and the opportunities that if offers our residents.
When considering what your options are for higher education, an apprenticeship can give you a path to a long-term career in an industry you have real interest in. Signing up to an apprenticeship programme offers you a mixed learning environment as you benefit from traditional classroom teaching as well as the chance to apply the skills learnt in a work setting. Start your career with an apprenticeship so you have both practical and theory knowledge.
Meet an apprentice in a school
Jeremiah has been working as a school administrative support apprentice for the past seven months and is really enjoying his role. When asked about his experience so far, he says:
“I’m really enjoying my time here. There are many opportunities to learn about the different operating systems in a school office whilst also being able to build and develop my interpersonal and soft skills. Two days are never the same as you always meet different people, whether its parents, careers or visitors it is always a chance to learn and develop a broad knowledge base.”
As the apprenticeship is set up to give Jeremiah a varied experience, he gets to do different tasks in his administrative role. He enjoys this aspect as he says:
“The role of business admin can be incredibly diverse. On a daily basis, I am in charge of a variety of key tasks and functions to ensure the day-to-day smooth running of an office and business. I also find that during my time here, learning never stops. There is always something new to learn and discover, from discovering a new shortcut for Microsoft Office and SIMS to learning an entirely new operating system such as Parent pay. The programme has given me loads of opportunities to learn new and exciting things on the job whilst pushing me to think outside the box and allowing me to be creative and utilize my time and resources available efficiently.”
When asked if he would recommend this experience to other people, Jeremiah is confident in saying “I encourage anyone considering it as an option to look into an apprenticeship programme as I believe it is a great way to get hands-on experience whilst also having learning opportunities. I think it gives apprentices a great way to develop their organization skills as well as learning about teamwork, taking leadership and responsibility.”
Councillor Bassam Mahfouz, cabinet member for decent living incomes comments:
“We know how challenging it has been for young people to find good employment and training opportunities during the pandemic. As per our Plan for Good Jobs, the council and partners have created over 750 apprenticeship opportunities for Ealing residents and helped 400 employers hire apprentices.
“An apprenticeship is a fantastic route into a career since it combines gaining a qualification while working in a paid job. I’d encourage anyone who is considering an apprenticeship to get in touch with our friendly team and explore the many options available.”
Start your career with an apprenticeship
If like Jeremiah, you also want to benefit from an apprenticeship, to gain knowledge that could lead to your dream job, we can help. Head to Work Ealing to find out everything you need to know about starting an apprenticeship, what support is available and frequently asked questions.
