National Apprenticeship Week: Q&A with Mary and Connor

As part of National Apprenticeship week we spoke to mother and son, Mary and Connor about apprenticeships.

With Connor currently completing an apprenticeship, we chatted about how they found the process of finding and applying for the right role, the benefits of choosing this route and any advice they'd give to others considering an apprenticeship. 

What apprenticeship is your son doing?

MARY: He is currently completing a Digital Business Accelerator Level 3 with a company who provide high-quality apprenticeship programmes that combine work and training to many of the large corporates.  

How did you hear about apprenticeships?

MARY: A lot of what I know about apprenticeships comes from working at Business West. We have a dedicated team of Business Skills Advisors who are very knowledgeable about the subject and regularly work with businesses and education providers on current and future skills needs. They've opened my eyes to how much apprenticeships have changed over the years from the traditional manual trades such as plumbing and carpentry to areas such as IT, finance and law. There really is an apprenticeship for everyone.

Why did he choose to do an apprenticeship?

MARY: To break into the finance/tech world.  He really wanted to be part of a team at a top corporate company as, in his words, he wanted “to learn from the best”.  I encouraged him to choose an apprenticeship because we both know that learning on the job suits him – and to be able to do this whilst also gaining a great qualification was a perfect solution for him.

How easy was the process of applying for an apprenticeship?

CONNOR: Very easy, I was looking up apprenticeships one evening, found one that really suited me, so I expressed an interest and I had a call with the company the next day to discuss if it would be right for me.  Turns out it was, and I was offfered an interview. There were no formal assessments, the interview was with the manager I would be working with and his boss, which to me showed great commitment when people at their level were taking time out to interview an apprentice.  The internal process was simple and they communicated each stage well. 

How easy was it to find relevant information about apprenticeships?

CONNOR: For my apprenticeship it was easy to find the relevant info I was looking for, and the company were very helpful in guiding me with what I told them I wanted. They would suggest different roles and always be reaching out to me to ask if I was interested in them. They also had a “day in the life” for each job role so I could understand exactly what I was applying for, which helped enormously. 

What have been the benefits of doing an apprenticeship? 

CONNOR: Breaking into the world of FinanceTech (FinTech) is notoriously difficult and there is enormous competition for each role.  This apprenticeship helped me to get into that world, with the added benefit of learning from top professionals. I’ve been encouraged to grasp the many opportunities for networking, sometimes at a high level, which I’m pleased to say I really enjoy.  I’ve also loved getting to understand the different areas within the firm and the general basics of how the company works. Earning whilst learning is the icing on the cake and having the ability to stay on at the end to continue my development but in a full time role will be the cherry on top. 

MARY: This apprenticeship came at a perfect time, just after Covid, and provided my 21 year old son with a much-needed sense of direction and sense of purpose which in turn boosted his confidence and self-worth.  Moving to London to work for a corporate was his dream and it is a joy to watch him develop exponentially. 

What is your advice to others considering apprenticeships?

CONNOR: Go for it! If you’re interested in what you see, apply! It’s a great way to kickstart your career, meet new people, network, also gain a qualification at the end of it, and ideally get offered a full time job. 

MARY: Think about what makes you stand out from the crowd and focus on this in your application.  Things like excelling at sport show commitment and self-motivation, or taking a leading role in something at school shows leadership capabilities, or organising a charity challenge shows teamwork.  I think it’s these soft skills that employers are looking for.  An employer will choose enthusiasm and the right attitude over great academic ability; they are looking for someone with the right attitude that is willing to be trained in their systems and to their high standards.

If you'd like to search for your dream apprentice role, you can search vacancies on the government website here. 

If you'd like to know more about how an apprentice could fit into your business, get in touch with our Business Skills Advisors. 

 Business West is delivering Workforce for the Future in collaboration with other partners and the West of England Combined Authority.

For more information on Workforce for the Future, please visit the West of England Growth Hub. The Growth Hub is the West of England Combined Authority’s dedicated business support service which offers free, one-to-one advice and guidance for SMEs.

The West of England Workforce for the Future programme has received £4m of funding from the European Social Fund as part of the 2014-2020 European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme in England. The Department for Work and Pensions (and in London the intermediate body Greater London Authority) is the Managing Authority for the England European Social Fund programme. Established by the European Union, the European Social Fund helps local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support skills development, employment and job creation, social inclusion and local community regenerations. For more information visit: https://www.gov.uk/european-growth-funding.