Business Administration Apprentice Review

I work in the Apprenticeships Team, putting in place contracts between ourselves and the training providers for all of the different apprenticeship standards. This is either setting up new contracts, maintaining existing contracts or renewing expiring contracts. I work alongside the Commercial Contracts team and Procurement and look at both Clinical and Non-Clinical Apprenticeship Standards.

I have learnt about managing my own time, booking meetings and also the process of putting contracts into place (e.g. tender documents, working with procurement and using the Verto system to track these actions). I have also learnt to lead a contracts meeting and take actions from the contract review meetings with training providers.

This role is very different to my previous jobs and I am enjoying it much more than I expected to. I work with a lovely and supportive team and am pleasantly surprised by how much the company offers in terms of support, wellbeing etc. I am pleased I took this new career path.

I have been sent a list of dates for all of the workshops for my apprenticeship already which lets me plan way ahead. I am also given the time to complete my off the job training with no issues. I am also given clear deadlines for tasks set by my training provider.

My manager and also my team are incredibly supportive and I know that they want the best for me and for me to achieve as much as possible. I was unsure if it would be difficult to get time for my off the job training but there are no barriers to me getting this done thanks to my team.

I have regular meetings with my trainer/assessor who helps me identify where I am and how to build my portfolio. I have a way of directly contacting her should I need to and I always get detailed, helpful and timely feedback on any work I have submitted on the back of tasks set by the College.

Working towards this qualification whilst performing this role has given me a better understanding of my role including factors that have influenced the organisation and why things are done as they are. It has also helped me be more self-aware having studied professionalism and how that looks in the workplace.

Solent NHS Trust offers a lot of extra-curricular activities, such as free yoga and exercise classes, wellbeing check-ins, Covid Q&A's and has recently launched the use of the VP GO app where you can sign up to fitness challenges as teams. There are also events such as the Apprenticeship Awards each year.

Yes

They are an employer who put their staff first and colleagues are very well looked after and made to feel valued at all times. There are added benefits such as eye test vouchers, a cycle to work scheme and lots of events to get involved in. Solent NHS is very supportive and a lovely place to work.

It is definitely worth applying for and if you are successful you will have a lot of progression opportunities and a lot of support completing your apprenticeship. Once you have finished it, you can always look to complete another apprenticeship and you will be supported all the way with it.