Business Administrator Review

My role involves managing the apprenticeship contracts that the trust have in place with training providers, helping my manager to find providers for new courses and also measure training provider performance through our Key Performance Indicators. I set up contract meetings and ensure these are taking place on a monthly basis as well as researching new apprenticeships on offer.

I have learnt many new skills including contract management, procurement processes, project management skills as well as using different software such as Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Forms. I have also learnt to organise my time better and prioritise certain tasks which was not my strongest skill at the beginning of my apprenticeship.

I have found this programme really useful and it has helped me to enhance my role by learning new skills that I would not necessarily have learnt had I not joined the trust on an apprenticeship. It has also given me a chance to meet lots of other people on the course who I would not have met at the start of my role with Solent NHS Trust due to working from home, so the social aspect has also been great.

The programme is really well organised and the order in which the workshops took place was really well thought out to align with where we would have been in our job roles. My assessor is really good at setting tasks to make the most of the time I have and make sure I have enough work without being overwhelmed.

I am extremely grateful for the support I have received from Solent NHS Trust. I am able to get support in all the places I look, including from my line manager, the apprenticeship team, other teams who have allowed me to shadow them and also the other apprentices on the course.

I have had a lot of support from my training provider throughout the apprenticeship. As well as the workshops, I have a monthly meeting with my assessor where we look at my progress, set tasks to help me complete my portfolio and discuss the EPA. I also have a 12 weekly tripartite review with my line manager and assessor which helps to keep everyone in the loop. I also know I can contact my assessor in between these meetings if I need support or clarification.

There are many skills I do not think I would have learnt if I had joined the trust in a non-apprenticeship role. such as project management and stakeholder management. Also having my 20% off the job time gives me a chance to do independent research on topics that come up and I am not particularly confident on or I can shadow other teams to give me a more in depth understanding of the organisation which I may not have done otherwise.

There are lots of extra-curricular activities to get involved in such as exercise classes via Zoom, social events such as tea and chat and also charity initiatives (most recently donations to Ukrainian refugees). The trust also does work in the community such as careers events in schools and colleges where we promote apprenticeships.

Yes

There are endless opportunities to progress and develop your knowledge and skills. Everyone is willing to support you in order to achieve and as an employer they are extremely good at offering development (such as apprenticeships, webinars, training courses). As a mental health trust there is also a massive focus on the health and wellbeing of staff which isn't always present in other organisations.

Make the most of the opportunities you are given and know that you are able to develop yourself in lots of ways. Don't be afraid to ask questions, engage with other teams and ask for help if you need it. Everyone is willing to help you succeed as we all have the same goal.