Ask an apprentice - Q&A with Emon Rostam-Shirazy

5th February 2020

This week (3-9 February) is National Apprenticeship Week 2020. To highlight the benefits of an apprenticeship to individuals considering going down this route, we caught up with former Business West apprentice Emon Rostam-Shirazy to learn more about his experience.

1. Tell us a bit about yourself, your career background and your role at Business West.

My name is Emon Rostam–Shirazy, I’m 24 and I’ve been working at Business West since I was 19. I started as an apprentice in the Skills team doing a level 3 business administration course. Once I completed my apprenticeship, I applied for another role in Business West and I was lucky enough to be appointed as Project Co-ordinator for the international trade team. After a year and a half I applied for my current role as Impact Performance Executive.

2. Why did you decide to apply for an apprenticeship?

I applied for an apprenticeship because I felt like it was another route into working for a successful business. A lot of my friends decided to go down the university route, which I agree is an experience I missed out on, but the appeal of studying at a good level and earning money at the same time was greater for me. I then found out about the Apprenticeship Levy that is available to all businesses, meaning there was a decent amount of funding for all business to upskill staff through apprenticeships. Most people don’t realise you can now do an apprenticeship to degree level, so you have the option to progress to the next level and go to university later on in your career. The option to work a few days and still go to university debt free whilst getting paid at the same time is a no brainer.

3. What did your apprenticeship role entail?

It varied a lot and that’s what I liked about it, no two days were really the same. One day I could be presenting to local businesses. This could vary from explaining apprenticeships, what they entail and how businesses could benefit. Then I’d have my usual admin days and raising purchase orders for the team, which helped my finance skills. I would do a lot of data input into our CRM system for the team, which gave me a good grounding in data analysis. The main factor I liked about my role was that we had a leading skills advisor for most sectors. So, I would get to attend lots of events and network with the businesses that attended. By having to stand up and present a lot my experience as an apprentice was really beneficial for me and my presenting skills. Is also helped me gain a positive reputation within the companies at these networking events. I would tend to do my coursework for my apprenticeship at home. I didn’t really like the coursework side of my apprenticeship and would try to complete a unit or two in a day so I could then get on with my actual role that I liked!

4. What skills did you gain from being an apprentice?

The team I had around me was ideal to develop my skills – I developed my admin, communication, finance, presenting, sales and many more. I think another benefit was because we had such a diverse team it allowed me to learn to approach a situation or project in multiple ways. Each person has their own style and approach to everything. Learning how to adapt myself to work best with each person’s style was probably the biggest skill that I try use to this day. It also teaches you to be an adult and how to manage your finances. Apprenticeships aren’t always the best paying jobs, however, they are always a step in the right direction. I began on quite a low rate but had before agreed a monthly to quarterly increase on my hourly rate. This motivated and pushed me to achieve more than I normally would because it made me want that pay rise even more, so I’d have more money. I think any job teaches you this, but an apprenticeship is the first step in a career choice, which can change many times, but it’s the first step to learning these skills at a young age.

5. What do you think the benefits were to both you and the company?

The benefits for me is that I have learned skills that I might not have learnt anywhere else. Business West’s international trade team is so diverse that no day is the same. Every day I’m learning something new with data, CRM, sales, exporting or business development activities. I think the company has benefited in terms of the processes I have helped developed and the targets I have contributed towards achieving.

6. What’s the best piece of advice you would give to someone thinking of becoming an apprentice?

Experience on the job and work experience is more valuable to any employer than any qualification. If you had two people interviewing for a role, one has completed a two year apprenticeship and has worked for a company that whole time doing 9-5 and managing their finances, learning to communicate in a professional environment in those two years. Then you have someone who has completed an undergraduate degree. This person might be text book qualified for the job but they haven’t actually experienced a day on the job or learned that not everything mentioned in the text book happens in your day to day role and some a skills you have to learn as a person and not as a qualification. So personally, I believe a person with an apprenticeship background will make a much better impression and have a better chance of getting a higher role than a graduate. 

I’d also say don’t be afraid to put your ideas forwards – your ideas might be looking at things from a fresh perspective that the business has been looking for. 

Be patient! It takes time like everything! But in the end, it will really be worth it. Even if you don’t carry on with the company you did it with, you now have the option to look for a full-time job in most offices because you’ve got the work experience and qualifications to do so. If you really wanted to you could look to do the next level (a degree apprenticeship) with a new or the existing company you’re already working with. So, it’s a great way to get your foot on the career ladder. 

If you didn’t get the role you really wanted, then don’t worry there will be other chances and if they’re a big enough company they could potentially create an extra role because they usually have the finances to do so. 

Make sure you stand out professionally. Create a LinkedIn account or personally email the businesses that you are interested in to see if they are hiring or considering taking on apprenticeship roles, its not going to hurt and if anything, you personally approaching these businesses would show you’re that bit more interested than the normal applicant.

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  • National Apprenticeship Week 2020

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