Head Office Apprentice Review

My role varies every 6 months, rotating to a different placement around the Head Office of British Airways. I am currently working in the commerical directorate. My daily tasks include meetings, updates on agents ensuring they are hitting their NDC booking volume and data spreadsheet updates. It is very varied.

Whilst in my placements I have definatley developed new skills, and built on exisiting skills. This is from my communication a skills to both internal and external stakeholders, but also the communication and interpersonal skills needed when dealing with stakeholders externally. It is important to build and maintain these for potential careers in the industry.

I really enjoy my programme. It is great seeing a variety of different departments and to be in 4 different roles. I have built on skills and created new skills. My knowledge has improved of both the overall airline and department specific such as Commercial, Safety and Marketing. They have all been very eye opening.

Our programme is structured into NVQ and Assignments. I balance my time completing assignments along with my business every day tasks. Our NVQ assessor comes into our workplace every 6 weeks to help guide us in the right direction and to complete professional discussions to help sign off our NVQ assignments.

My Emplyer is very supportive of both my personal development and my business development, allowing time ot complete assignments and qualification work. I receive support such a 1 2 1 with my manager and my apprentice manager. I have a personal development form which I also use for support and guidance.

My training provider is very supportive. My assessor visits every 6 weeks to track and monitor my progress and to raise any concerns if I have any. I feel supported by my assessor. She replies to emails in a timely manner regarding our NVQ and any concerns I may have.

I feel my training provider helps me understand the underlying information behind business reasonings and justifications. It offers the opportunity to learn new skills and understand the reasoning behind decision making in the business environment. This helps me in my role understand and apply these skills and understanding, overall making me perform better.

At my business work place we have lots of activities to get involved with. Our Charity department Flying Start offer challenges and events to colleagues to get involved with. We have an onsite gym which is a montly membership. We have our surrounding areas of Harmondsworth Moor, where we are able to go on nature walks and get some fresh air at lunch time.

Yes

I would recommend BA to a friend as it had a great business drive, diversity and fairness. They treat every employee with respect and action conerns that employees have. The extra activities and benefits that come with the role such as staff travel, pension and savings would lure any person to the business.

Think outside the box, be out there and different. When applying pracitce questions prior to applying and make sure your application stands out from the others. Think of what you can bring to the team and what you would offer that others do not have. When in the business, network as much as possible.