Nathan Hoyle is an International Trade Documentation Specialist at Business West. He moved into this role after completing an apprenticeship. We caught up with Nathan to find out more about his apprenticeship journey, his current role and why he would recommend apprenticeships to others.
Tell us a little about yourself; what were you doing before starting an apprenticeship? Why did you decide to enrol onto an apprenticeship programme?
Before starting my apprenticeship, I was studying a level 3 business course at SGS College. I decided to enrol onto an apprenticeship programme because I was eager to start working full time and wanted to kick start my career.
How did you find out about your apprenticeship and what made you apply?
I found out about my apprenticeship through the government website. I decided to apply because the role sounded unique and interesting. In addition, the qualification on offer was what I was interested in achieving at the time. The advert for the apprenticeship also pointed out that Business West were looking for someone who could stay on after the apprenticeship had finished.
What apprenticeship did you complete and how long did it take you?
I completed the City and Guilds Level 3 Apprenticeship in Business Administration, which took me a year to complete.
What was your favourite moment of your apprenticeship?
I enjoyed the positive feedback that I was getting from my college assessor and manager the most. I also enjoyed the training course that I completed in Birmingham which allowed me to process Certificates of Origin independently.
What do you think was the most valuable skill you learnt from your apprenticeship?
The most valuable skill that I learnt from my apprenticeship was communication in the workplace. I think that having good communication skills is very important because you and your colleagues need to be on the same page with every problem/situation that arises throughout the day.
Do you feel like you missed out by not going to college/university?
No, I do not think I would have suited university however, I do hope to achieve a degree level qualification in the future.
What is your role now – can you explain a bit about your day to day role?
My main responsibility is to process and issue export documents for companies who are shipping goods overseas. Aside from this, I answer customer queries over the phone and via email. I also carry out basic administrative duties such as sorting the mail and filing documentation.
What are your plans for the future?
I plan to stay at Business West for as long as possible. I enjoy my role and I would like to develop myself through professional courses whilst gaining more experience at the same time.
Would you recommend completing an apprenticeship to others?
Yes definitely, as there are a wide range of qualifications and job roles to choose from. When completing coursework, you can also choose to complete specific units that are more relevant to your workplace. This makes apprenticeships flexible and I believe, a great choice.
#NAW2019 #BlazeATrail #skillswest
Read more National Apprenticeship Week blogs here:
Q&A with Cassie Yates - Project Manager
Q&A with Liam Watson - Current Apprentice
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