“Apprenticeships are fantastic opportunities”
Why did you decide to do an apprenticeship?
I had taken the decision not to go to university as it wasn’t for me but I really liked the idea of learning on the job, getting paid whilst still being able to complete a qualification that will help me expand my career. I had not heard of the role before but it sounded like something I would enjoy, so I thought I would give it a go and luckily I was hired!
What did the apprenticeship involve and how did it relate to your day to day job?
The apprenticeship involved joining the team from day one and being involved in the day to day running of the south east exports team, shadowing inspectors and doing online pests and disease training. One day a week was scheduled for apprenticeship work like coursework etc and reflecting on what I had learnt being on the job that week and applying it to regulatory compliance structures.
How was the apprenticeship delivered?
Once a month there would be an online workshop where one of the tutors would teach a segment of the learning and we would have discussions and quizzes etc. and eventually build up to discussing coursework. There would also be regular meetings with our 1:1 tutors who would check up on how we were progressing and what we had learnt. One day a week was dedicated to writing up coursework or completing any apprenticeship work that needed doing. The rest of it was learning on the job!
What support were you offered to help complete the apprenticeship?
My line manager was incredibly supportive and regularly checked in with myself and the other apprentices to see how we were getting on. I was lucky to have two other apprentices in my team so we were also able to support each other and have regular catch ups. We also had a personal mentor to help us and had regular 1:1’s with them to check we were getting on well.
How have you been able to apply the skills gained in your apprenticeship in your day?
I think that looking at the role from a more compliance-based side I am able to better understand the businesses we work with and how important it is to not only protect the biosecurity of the country but also to appreciate why the business needs us to help support them and why they need to comply. I think it gave me a more customer focused mindset and was able to take into consideration things like business costs and time whilst also ensuring legislation is always followed. We also had to complete presentations and have regular discussions with other apprentices and this not only gave me a better idea of how the role differs around the country but also gave me more confidence.
How beneficial is the Apprenticeship?
Without the apprenticeship I would not have been qualified enough for this role but now I have a full-time placement. I also believe that the ICA qualification will help me in the future if I want to progress my career. It allows you to learn on the go which for me is vital in understanding the role quickly.
What has been your main successes of the programme ?
Not only gaining a merit in my final exam, but also my final project which involved creating supportive information for my region on the pests and diseases specifically for our regions most common exports. This had been rolled out and my pest profiles are available on our SharePoint for anyone who needs them.
What advice would you give to someone considering an apprenticeship?
Apprenticeships are a fantastic opportunity to work and learn at the same time and achieve a qualification at the end of it. You get paid to work so don’t have to worry about university fees and the on the job experience you get is so useful in expanding your career. Its not always easy to balance everything but it is worth it in the end!
