Business Administration, Level 3
What made you choose this apprenticeship?
I saw on Tik Tok about how you can get an apprenticeship. I didn't know that you can get onto an apprenticeship at 16 years old, I thought it was only for people aged 18 years+. When it came to applying for apprenticeships I decided to apply for BCC as I am part of the Bristol City Youth Council and I have had a wonderful time being a youth councillor so thought that I would have a similar experience being an apprentice.
I had just left secondary school, and I was tired of doing lots of exams so doing an apprenticeship was a much better option as it is coursework based with few exams. I was working at Primark and I wanted to continue having a job whilst studying without having to work less hours and reduce my pay.
What has your journey been like?
I joined BCC in September. It's going well. Every week is different. I do work for the two teams I am currently in (building control and legal support) but I also support other teams when needed and this allows me to learn other aspects of the council which is nice. I've worked with the Hope Virtual school, LCS, full council meetings and for the Disclosure team doing basic administration tasks. My team leader gives me the opportunity to get myself involved in different areas of the council. As part of my apprenticeship, I must keep a timelog for my college and by working across the council, I can use this as off the job time, which is evidence of new learning.
What challenges have you faced during your apprenticeship?
I found it daunting being the new person and everything felt new. I had IT issues which was making it difficult for me to do my work. When it came to being trained to use new software, in the beginning it was hard to pick up but now I have settled in, and I know what I am doing.
Working in an office was different from what I expected. It was more relaxed, and people were able to do their work whilst having a good time. I like the environment . I enjoy working at home as I feel that I can get more work done because there are less distractions however working from home can be lonely. It is nice to have that flexibility and I didn't realise I had the choice.
What life skills is your apprenticeship teaching you?
It is teaching me perseverance, starting and finishing a task. It has given me confidence as I am developing new skills and meeting new people.
What are your plans once you have completed?
Once I've completed, I hope to work for BCC if I am offered a job.
Would you recommend an apprenticeship?
Definitely. A lot of my friends complain to me about A levels and the difficult exams they have to do in order to pass and by doing an apprenticeship you are able to gain qualifications without having to stress over multiple exams. Unfortunately, not many young people know that apprenticeships are an option available to them, so I do think they need to be advertised and promoted more to young people like me.
