Why did you become a Future LDN Apprentice?
I looked at other ways of getting a job or apprenticeship before Future LDN, however it seemed I could only find a job making tea which offered no support or progression. Everyone at Future LDNtries their upmost to help and support you as their apprentice, and as well as being professional they are friendly. This influenced me when deciding to join Future LDN. Also they offered me Employability Skills training and a qualification which covered things like how to approach an interview and basic working skills before they got me a placement, which I hadn’t seen anywhere else.
What were your barriers to learning/what obstacles have you had to overcome?
About four months into my apprenticeship at Panacea, I felt like I had ‘hit a wall’. I felt like I wasn’t made for the job and I felt frustrated at my performance and felt I wasn’t achieving what I wanted to. This became noticeable in my work place and I was seen to lose focus. I emailed Simon (Managing Director) about my frustration and within the hour I had an email back asking me to call him that evening. I did so and even though it was out of office hours he was on the phone to me for more than an hour helping clear up my head and replaced my negativity with positive outcomes, which helped me massively. I have now picked myself up at work and have continued to progress to help myself and the company since then.
What have your achievements been so far?
So far at Panacea I have learnt how to use the system to a high enough standard to train our clients in numbers varying from one on ones to groups of nearly 20 people. I am more than half way towards my qualification and am ahead on schedule with the work that needs to be completed to gain the qualification. I have set myself targets throughout my time here – ranging from managing my time in the mornings to making sure I answer the phone at least 10 times a day. These help to mix up my day and keep me focused on what I have to do. I like to be set a challenge and sometimes my daily challenges are harder than others but they do give me a sense of satisfaction when I complete them.
How has the Apprenticeship affected your life?
I feel I have grown up since joining Panacea. I feel I have adapted from school life to work life well and all the daily challenges of commuting that come with it. Changing from doing three hours a day at school to doing 8 hours a day working plus 2 hours traveling each day is quite a shock at first. Also learning to live within my budget – earning money each week and having to live only on that money. I feel I have learnt how to manage the difference between my social life and my working life in terms of language and behaviour and trying to keep them apart in terms of being effected by something in my social life and not letting it affect my work.
What do you want to do when you finish yourApprenticeship?
I would like to continue to grow at Panacea and reach a higher status at the company. Ultimately I would like to be able to have my own apprentice who I can help in the same way I have been helped at Future LDN. I would like to learn all I can while I am here so that whether I am here at another company in a few years’ time I will be a useful asset.
