Business Support Apprentice Review

I am currently doing the L2 Business Support Apprenticeship with my local council in their adult learning department. I aid in the running of day to day tasks in the office, and shadow various members of the team. I interact with both employees of the council, and external customers/learners. I am responsible for updating staff lists, ensuring members of staff have up to date certificates and training, and am also working on several projects with my manager.

I am developing my skills in the office environment every day. I had never worked in an office before this apprenticeship, so am learning lots! I have built up my skills in data handling and spreadsheets, as well as customer service and interaction. I have completed additional training such as Adult Safeguarding, and Equality, which are required of all council employees. I have also been given the responsibility of minutes taker for a high level set of meetings by the company's governors.

I am enjoying my programme, and am excited to develop and expand on my current skills set. I have built some great working relationships, and have also made good friends in my office. As I had never worked in an office environment before, I didn't know what to expect of the job, but I am definitely enjoying my time.

I feel incredibly valued within the team; in fact I had my first appraisal today and the feedback I received was very positive. My manager works with me to help set tasks and work throughout the day, and is always supportive of my ideas and suggestions. I also feel valued by other members of the team, and have had feedback from them that they are impressed with my level of work and "can do" outlook.

Initially at the start there was a lack of structure and things were a bit confusing, but as I settled in to the team and got to know my tutor, work became easier and better structured.

I receive a good amount of support from my tutor. I am able to submit my work to her easily through OneFile, which she marks regularly. Also, she arranges visits with us in the workplace to complete assessments and monitor our work. She sets time aside for each apprentice in my office so we each have the same amount of support.

As previously mentioned, I receive plenty of support from my manager. She sets me work and gives assistance on tasks, and also co-operates with other team members to help me with understanding tasks.

I was surprised at how well I am paid compared to my sister who is also doing an apprenticeship in another part of the county. I have enough to rent a flat with my partner and have money for food and social activities. I have managed to find a flat within a ten minute walk to the office so it doesn't cost me anything to travel, and the office is in a town I have always wanted to live in.

I socialise with members of the office team outside of work hours, and also communicate with apprentices who are based in other centres. As I moved to the area for the job, it took my a while to settle in, but I have found a good number of activities at my local leisure centre and in the surrounding countryside. Before I worked here, I was doing part-time work in a number of different shops.

Yes

I feel like apprenticeships are the best way to get in to the area you want to work in, and also have the added benefit of being paid while you learn.

Always read through the application beforehand, maybe even print out the application form and fill it in by hand first to give you ideas of what you can put in. Take your time, but don't ramble too much! Make sure you save the job description so that you can refer back to it if you are offered an interview, and give suitable answers which are relevant to the role.