National Apprenticeship Week 2017 – The Ladder of Opportunity

9 Mar, 2017

I can remember being a school leaver and not really having apprenticeships mentioned to me, they were seen as something that you would do if you had an interest in plumbing or bricklaying, not working in a business. Since then apprenticeships have grown massively, becoming a very popular route for people wanting to get their foot in the door of business rather than going to university. This gives you the opportunity to get on the first step of the ladder to a successful career.

From doing an apprenticeship, you can gain the essential knowledge you need to carry out your job role from your college tuition. At the end of this you also get a qualification, which is always a bonus! Whilst building your knowledge from your course, you cannot dismiss the invaluable skills that you pick up by working in your role on a daily basis. You pick up business knowledge and skills that can only be taught when actually carrying out the job, it’s not something that would be covered on a syllabus. These helps you to stand out, being seen as a business professional rather than an apprentice.

Some people find the transition from school to the business workplace quite daunting, worried that they are not prepared enough or mature enough. But don’t be scared to ask for support! The vast majority of apprenticeship providers give you all the help they can by helping you to build a professional CV and understand how you should present yourself in a job interview. At the end of the day, they want to give you the best start they can to your apprenticeship, so they are going to want to make sure you are supported.

I started my apprenticeship at ISO Quality Services in November 2016, after previously completing my Level 3 Digital Marketing apprenticeship at another company. After completing a qualification that I enjoyed, it was a no-brainer to carry on to the next level, and ISO QSL gave me the opportunity to do that. I am now working towards my Level 4 in Digital Marketing, whilst working in the position of Marketing Assistant doing a job that I love. Doing an apprenticeship has helped me reach where I am today, and without the knowledge from the course and the skills from the workplace, I don’t know where I would be without it.

If you have any further questions about Apprenticeships, you can visit the Get In Go Far website here.

You can also hear about Kerrie’s apprenticeship journey here and the success that ISO Quality Services had at the National Apprenticeship Awards 2016 here.