Name: Charlotte Graham
Job title: Level 3 Business Administration Apprentice - at UK Commission for Employment and Skills
Training: Trained in administrative duties including; diary management; booking venues and meetings; taking minutes; managing the National Occupational Standards (NOS) database and dealing with NOS queries.
Location: lives in Sheffield, works in Wath-upon-Dearne, Rotherham
As soon as I started my Business Administration Apprenticeship at UKCES I knew this was the right route for me. I’m still not 100% sure what career I want to do, I just know I want to stick at working and progress into higher positions of any successful business.
I chose to do an Apprenticeship because I wanted a job and wanted to earn my own money, and become successful in a company based upon my willingness to work hard, not just my academic abilities. When I left school I was going to do A-Levels, I had passed my exams with even an A* in one of my Science exams – but despite this I had always found classroom learning daunting and I was reminded of these days at School when I had my induction at six form, and left half way through the day. Having an interest in business I decided to do a Level 3 Business course at college.
Don’t get me wrong, some of it was interesting but I still couldn’t enjoy the idea of just studying. I stuck it out because the option to go to Uni was there for me. But when the new fees were introduced, this added on to the reasons on why I’d be better off doing an apprenticeship. Plus, going to Uni I could have studied all the hours there were without a guaranteed job.
An apprenticeship has provided me with a good work ethic and the training I have received has been invaluable – my confidence has grown and I’ve developed a wide range of business skills. I do honestly believe you can get as high as someone with a degree in business, at the end of the day it’s about how hard you work.
The advice I would give to anybody who is undertaking/wanting to do an Apprenticeship is to take as many opportunities as you can. Don’t be afraid to ask your colleagues to show you how to do something new – you’re an apprentice after all, and learning new skills in the workplace is what it’s all about, so definitely make the most of it – I certainly have and it has paid off. I have now been taken on as a permanent member of staff and will continue to climb the career ladder.
I stand by my belief in success through Apprenticeships - I have read so many success stories of people that have done Apprenticeships and gone on to become lawyers, accountants, electricians – all very good jobs. That’s why I contributed to #247Apprentice for National Apprenticeship Week this year. I used twitter to send posts about my job, my roles and responsibilities and the highlights about being an apprentice.
I would recommend anyone who likes to learn hands to go for an Apprenticeship, and if there is an Apprenticeship route into the area of you want to go into, to take this option rather than believing university is the only option.
For more information about Apprenticeships watch this ‘How to apply for an Apprenticeship’ film, download the Av Search app to search for Apprenticeship vacancies whilst on the move, or visit apprenticeships.org.uk
