8th February 2024
As part of our National Apprenticeship Week celebrations we caught up with 4 members of our staff who are all completing an apprenticeship with us. Fun fact, 3 of them are former students!
Across our College we have 6 apprentices working in the following teams; Central Administration, HR, IT, Inclusive Learning and Marketing. We’re very proud to not only provide the foundations for our students who want to complete an apprenticeship once they leave us, but also be an employer who facilitates the transformative power of this pathway.
We spoke to Ash (IT), Cait (HR), Marcie (Marketing) and Sam (Central Admin) to find out about their apprenticeship journeys.
What apprenticeship are you doing/have you completed?
Ash: IT Technician Hardware Pathway (Level 3)
Cait: HR Support (Level 3)
Marcie: Digital Marketer (Level 3)
Sam: Business Administration (Level 3)
What encouraged you to do an apprenticeship?
Cait: When I was studying at St Brendan's, I was a little unsure what my next steps would be after completing my A-levels. I knew that I would prefer the learning on the job route rather than University. I visited the Career Advisors at St Brendan's who explained more about apprenticeships, and they mentioned the HR apprenticeship that was being advertised by the College, which was a perfect opportunity for me as I had really enjoyed the Recruitment & Selection module in my Level 3 Business BTEC, plus I had loved my time at St Brendan's as a student!
How do you find studying alongside your role at the College?
Ash: My manager is really supportive, I get dedicated time to study and so I don’t find it hard to balance the studying with my day-to-day tasks in the IT team. The work I do within the team also helps me complete assignments, so it goes really nicely together.
What’s been your favourite part of your apprenticeship?
Marcie: In my role I get to follow the students on their entire journey at College, from meeting them at Careers Fairs, to Open Events, enrolment, Year 12, Year 13 and results day! It’s really wholesome to watch them grow and be a part of that journey with them.
Would you recommend doing an apprenticeship, and if so why?
Sam: Yes, definitely! I think it’s a smooth way to transition from studying into the world of work. Some of my friends who have gone straight into a job have found it tricky to adjust, and my mates who are at uni are jealous of the fact I’m getting a qualification without the debt.
Do you have any advice for any St Brendan’s students considering an apprenticeship?
Cait: I think the best thing to do is to carry out lots of research to make sure you are finding the perfect apprenticeship for you, and the company that you feel you would like to work for, as well as attending career events and gaining career advice if you are not sure. The Careers Team at College are always happy to help and can support you to decide which apprenticeship would be best for you and your future career path, so don’t hesitate to get in touch with them for support.
