External Affairs apprentice Review

My role involves responding to queries from businesses, managing feedback received from stakeholders following publication of magazine, reading draft articles, distributing press releases and processing invoices and purchase orders for my team.

I have learnt the skill of email etiquette to communicate effectively and built a better understanding of the processes involved in publishing a magazine.

I happily rate my enjoyment of the programme a 10/10 as I have gained a lot since starting- new knowledge and a friendly team. Which? gives a big emphasis on staffs wellbeing and has supported me in working from home, even to provide me with all the equipment I need.

The apprenticeship is organised well with a big support network from my manager, my team, the Which? onboarding team, my Which? mentor and my Babington tutor.

I receive a lot of support from my employer. I have daily meetings with my manager to express any concerns I may have. I have a mentor and the HR's onboarding team that has helped me to settle in. Everyone has been so helpful and always on hand when I need them.

I have a tutor who I meet with once a month. Yet I feel tutors are very busy so the one hour slot is not long enough and we end up having to go over time.

Assignments set are helpful as I got to learn more about the types of businesses.

I am currently part of the Diversity&Inclusion group. There is also a football group, a book group etc and will start back at the end of lockdown. And Slack is used by everybody to connect and talk about work or non-related work.

Yes

I've worked in a few industries and Which? is by far the best employer I have had. This is the only place I've worked where people are genuinely happy to be working here. The support I got from the first day was amazing and settled in really quick.

The interview was not scary like the other interviews I had. I felt at ease by the interviewers- my manager and a HR staff. Onboarding was amazing, it allowed me to learn more about Which? and make friends. I wasn't just thrown in the deep end. My tip is to be yourself.