Business Support Administrator Review

Generally, I look after a senior leader's calendar, booking meetings as needed. I chair and take minutes for weekly leadership team meetings and collate performance reports - your typical admin tasks. I have also worked with other administrators in my department checking that complaints are in the right queues and ready to be investigated; reading through complaint forms and files, applying the training provided. I sometimes need to email businesses requesting files. In the short time I've worked here, I have worked along with people from a variety levels, and I have a supportive mentor and team who have helped me settle into my role, advising on best practice.

I have definitely learned to be concise in my communication, and also more assertive in my decisions-making. Before this apprenticeship, I preferred to work independently, but know I can really appreciate the benefits working in a team to accomplish a task. The service always have training available in many areas, technical and soft skills. The apprenticeship standard training has also helped me to refine techniques in minute taking and communication to get the best results.

Apart from the fact that for now the majority of the organisation is working remotely, I am really enjoying working for the Financial Ombudsman Service. - hopefully it'll more social interaction in person will be possible soon. With that said, I can really sense how friendly from the people I have spoken to and worked with are, even virtually. I feel I've risen to a challenge as I didn't know exactly what to expect with this being my first job. My team and department have given me so much help to take on responsibilities.

The apprenticeship standard is very well structured, and this is followed through with 4-6 weekly meetings with my regional trainer from Lifetime Training. I have the opportunity to consolidate my knowledge and have a chat about what I can do to develop. My team are very understanding that I have the apprenticeship work to focus on, kindly giving me a day to focus on this side of the apprenticeship.

My manager is amazing. Whenever I have problem she will talk through it with me and give me advice or a pointer in the right direction. Even on a personal level, she is very understanding and never wants me to feel overwhelmed with my workload. She checks in regularly to see how I'm getting on and if I feel I'm being pushed enough or too much. My mentor is always on hand to support me with any task I have and I'm not too sure about. I found it especially useful when settling in that I am doing the exact same tasks as he did as an apprentice at the service. He showed me how he had been doing things, and I was able to pick up his tasks and make them my own/improve them where I could. HR are very involved in the apprenticeship, ensuring that it is going smoothly and always want feedback.

My regional trainer is very easy-going and understanding when it comes to completing the activities for the apprenticeship standard. When we have our sessions, every 4-6 weeks, she will overview what we did last time, ask me some questions on that, and the module I just studies, Then she will go over any areas I need to check my knowledge on. The sessions are interactive and engaging, and my trainer is always on hand so I can email her in-between sessions if I'm having any issues. I think at times, the apprenticeship standard itself and be a bit vague, but with some discussion you can get ideas on what you need to do.

The apprenticeship standard delivered by Lifetime Training has been interactive, suited to all learning styles with videos, reading materials and activities which can help you to put the theory int practice. One thing I would say is that some criteria on the apprenticeship standard are not incorporated into my role specifically and as mentioned before can be a bit vague. However, by speaking with my mentor and manager, I've mostly been able to find ways of meeting the criteria.

There are many networks you can join in the organisation. I have just joined the Carers' group network as a carer myself, but there are other networks for religion, diversity and inclusion, mental health and well-being etc. Even though we are mostly working remotely right now, there are still many events.

Yes

Being an apprentice in such an influential organisation is an advantage and can be a springboard for your career if you want it to be. I have learnt so much in the part 4 months and I have been supported much more than I imagined. Not to mention that you are treated like any other member of staff and given meaningful tasks and projects to complete.

For the interview, prepare and just be yourself. Show your interest in the service - do your research beforehand! Having questions to ask is so important. You don't need elaborate examples to show why you're good for the job. Just showcase your skills in a clear and direct way. I would like to have known more about the structure of the organisation beforehand, but that's always a question you can ask at the end of the interview. During the induction, try not to be shy. Build a rapport with the other apprentices as they will help you so much. Be organised from day 1. Get involved in as much as you can manage, but don't be worried if it feels a bit overwhelming at first and you need to slow down. Got at your own pace and you'll pick everything up in time.