Business Adimistration Trainee Review

As a Business Admin Trainee I take part in general administration tasks and rotate on a 3-6 monthly basis around different departments. Some areas are more interesting than others but the majority of the work is supporting projects teams, taking meeting minutes, filing and printing.

During my apprenticeship I've gained a Level 3 qualification in business, an NVQ in admin and a HNC is Business Management. I have also been given the opportunity to join a professional network that allows me to attend and arrange STEM events.

I enjoyed my programme at the beginning of my employment as there was lots of new skills to learn and experiences to have. However, after my first few placements my work started to get very repetitive. As I'm being treated as admin staff I don't find the work very challenging but I make up for that through the events I arrange with the professional network I'm part of.

I don't feel my work or opinion is valued much at Morgan Sindall. After being told I would be able to explore a range of roles and areas I have been restricted to admin tasks that do not challenge me or use the qualifications I've gained. During my time on the programme I have requested (throughout the duration of 2 years) to be placed on the communications team, this has not happened. Whilst I appreciate the training teams effort to accommodate this it has left me feeling that my personal ambition to start a career in communications and socio-economics is not valued as much as it could be.

The overall programme in terms of inductions, training & study has been successful, however each placement in a different area of Morgan Sindall has been based on the needs of a project team as apposed to the needs of the apprentice. Several of my placements have been very successful and I have learnt a lot. But several have also led to little work and little opportunity to experience anything beyond admin support.

Lakes College has been a good training provider across the several years I've attended the college. I've enjoyed the course and gained a lot of knowledge across my level 3 & HNC qualifications.

I have received a great deal of support from the training team and have always gone to them if I have any problems or concerns

My wage & annual leave meets my needs very well - this job has given me the funds and ability to travel across the UK and also take part in a 3 week voluntary programme in Sri Lanka, an option that I thought would be closed to me due to working full time. Having the capacity to buy 5 more holidays has proved a great opportunity and the competitive salary gives me the chance to experience a range of holidays, concerts and cities whilst working.

The Professional network I'm part of provides the opportunities for socials, sports clubs and charity fundraisers as well as STEM events and networking dinners.

Yes

The salary & annual leave gives apprentices a great opportunity to live a good lifestyle whilst also getting experience in a large national company. This will lead to a range of opportunities in the future & enable them to either stay with Morgan Sindall or go into other firms in the confidence they have worked for a successful organisation. However, I would be reluctant to suggest it to a friend that does not value money and is looking to make an impact with their work. This programme would work on more personal preference for what motivates someone to make a living.

I would ask an applicant to consider what motivates them in work and if they are willing to wait for the opportunities they want. This programme has been a positive stepping stone in my working journey but has not led to me achieving the experience I want or need in Communications and Socio-economics to progress in this career. There is a lot of opportunity outside of the standard working roll through the Young Professional Network Morgan Sindall has set up that would not be accessible anywhere else, but it is only beneficial if you use it to expand the skills you need for the role you're aspiring to. E.g arranging STEM or charity events has given me the skills I would use in communications and Socio-economics and hopefully this experience will help me progress in that area in the future.