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Social Worker Apprenticeship, Level 6
What made you choose this apprenticeship?
I started volunteering from the age of 15 years in community centres. I did start a degree in Social Work, but for personal reasons decided that I didn't want to continue with this. So I decided to get more experience. Five years ago, I started at BCC as an Adult Care Practitioner. There weren't any opportunities for many years and there was no progression pathways. When the apprenticeship went live in 2020, there were a few us who were ready to take the next step into Social Work.
What has your journey been like?
I started in September 2020. I found the experience very positive. The learning compliments the work that I do. This is a generic Social Work degree and it gives an understanding of both adult and children's work. It is interesting to see the progression since doing this. I have a greater alignment with best practice which benefits those that I work with. I am able to capture the ‘true person' on adult social care assessment forms, which is fundamental in trying to advocate for people, which is a big part of what we do.
What challenges have you faced during your apprenticeship?
The main challenge is balancing full time work with studying against home life. At this level, it is intense and it takes time out of your personal life. I have dyslexia and dyspraxia and I do block time out. When it gets close to deadlines I use my time productively. The university give me extra time and I have access to skills sessions. There is a lot of reading but I am getting better about taking on information.
What life skills is your apprenticeship teaching you?
It has given me more confidence in talking to people. We need to do a lot of self reflection and I feel more certain about who I am, and how that has an impact on the world.
What are your plans once you have completed?
I am planning on doing extra training through a supported year in employment. Last year, I had an essay published in a journal. I'm really interested in Social Work research which may lead to Social Work education.
Would you recommend an apprenticeship?
Yes I would. I was fine at school but not the brightest. However, doing an apprenticeship has allowed me to see education in a different way. It has changed my perspective about progression routes into careers.
Civil Engineering, Level 3
What made you choose this apprenticeship?
After I left school, I went to college to study for an L3 extended diploma in engineering. In March, Covid hit, and my course was affected. I worked at Morrisons for a year and half but I really wanted to do an apprenticeship.
Some of my friends are at university but it makes sense to get paid for studying and I wanted to stay at home.
I chose BCC because I wanted to work locally.
What has your journey been like?
Since joining BCC 5 months ago, I've learnt a lot. I'm with Weston College and I like my teacher. He explains the assignments properly and replies to messages promptly outside of college time.
I'm learning a designing tool, called Auto Cad. It's used for drawing. I use it for designing signs. There's a school in Hartcliffe and they want people to stop from parking in front of the entrance and near by, so I designed the bollards for the road. I needed to speak to the client to install them. I'm working with two people from within the team. I get assigned a number of small projects like this which are school related.
The team are very welcoming and I've fitted in well.
What challenges have you faced during your apprenticeship?
I struggled with Auto Cad at the start but I'm familiar with it now. Juggling work and studying can be challenging but I plan it out and use a time planner and do the assignments every day. We get assignments once every 3 weeks with plenty of time to plan them out.
What life skills is your apprenticeship teaching you?
I used to hate calling people up but talking to contractors has given me confidence and I feel more professional about what I'm talking about.
What are your plans once you have completed?
I'll finish in 3 years and then I hope to progress within this team.
Would you recommend an apprenticeship?
Yes I would. You can study and get paid at the same time rather than go into debt. You are more likely to get a job after an apprenticeship. The employer trains you up and you develop a relationship with them.
Business Administration, Level 3
What made you choose this apprenticeship?
I saw on Tik Tok about how you can get an apprenticeship. I didn't know that you can get onto an apprenticeship at 16 years old, I thought it was only for people aged 18 years+. When it came to applying for apprenticeships I decided to apply for BCC as I am part of the Bristol City Youth Council and I have had a wonderful time being a youth councillor so thought that I would have a similar experience being an apprentice.
I had just left secondary school, and I was tired of doing lots of exams so doing an apprenticeship was a much better option as it is coursework based with few exams. I was working at Primark and I wanted to continue having a job whilst studying without having to work less hours and reduce my pay.
What has your journey been like?
I joined BCC in September. It's going well. Every week is different. I do work for the two teams I am currently in (building control and legal support) but I also support other teams when needed and this allows me to learn other aspects of the council which is nice. I've worked with the Hope Virtual school, LCS, full council meetings and for the Disclosure team doing basic administration tasks. My team leader gives me the opportunity to get myself involved in different areas of the council. As part of my apprenticeship, I must keep a timelog for my college and by working across the council, I can use this as off the job time, which is evidence of new learning.
What challenges have you faced during your apprenticeship?
I found it daunting being the new person and everything felt new. I had IT issues which was making it difficult for me to do my work. When it came to being trained to use new software, in the beginning it was hard to pick up but now I have settled in, and I know what I am doing.
Working in an office was different from what I expected. It was more relaxed, and people were able to do their work whilst having a good time. I like the environment . I enjoy working at home as I feel that I can get more work done because there are less distractions however working from home can be lonely. It is nice to have that flexibility and I didn't realise I had the choice.
What life skills is your apprenticeship teaching you?
It is teaching me perseverance, starting and finishing a task. It has given me confidence as I am developing new skills and meeting new people.
What are your plans once you have completed?
Once I've completed, I hope to work for BCC if I am offered a job.
Would you recommend an apprenticeship?
Definitely. A lot of my friends complain to me about A levels and the difficult exams they have to do in order to pass and by doing an apprenticeship you are able to gain qualifications without having to stress over multiple exams. Unfortunately, not many young people know that apprenticeships are an option available to them, so I do think they need to be advertised and promoted more to young people like me.
Solicitor, Level 7
What made you choose this apprenticeship?
I had an interest in law from age 14 whilst completing my GCSEs and I was keen to study this post-16. However, my sixth form did not offer law as an A-Level subject. Whilst my peers were applying to universities I felt uncertain about studying at that level.
I did some research online, looking at alternative routes into law. The Instagram page Young Professionals was a key platform, sharing information about the apprenticeship route. I attended webinars and workshops, developing my understanding of what an apprenticeships could offer me, where to find them and how to secure one.
What has your journey been like?
I began applying in January 2022, submitting applications, attending work placements and undergoing both group and individual interviews whilst also taking my A-Level exams. By July 2022, I was offered a place.
My apprenticeship began at the end of August, and I chose to work in the Commercial and Governance team as this closely matched my university studies.
On my first day, my supervisor and I met to create a training programme for my year in the team. It introduced me to key aspects that my colleagues deal with, such as procurement. I am able to assist co-workers with their client matters, such as researching topics and completing existing contract templates with client information. Now in January, I have responsibility over two client leads.
I attend online webinars on Monday’s at the University of Law Bristol, which is the day I have dedicated to studying. The rest of the week I work in the office. The academic side of my apprenticeship is split into weekly reading units and one-hour lectures, followed by prepare, engage, and then consolidation tasks. As a public sector employee, I am also offered the opportunity to be seconded to a private firm for part of my programme.
I have an amazing social life with other apprentices who are employed at other firms. I have attended Christmas parties, dinners and fun activities such as bowling!
My apprenticeship is 6 years long, and I qualify as a solicitor in 2028. Although it’s not the traditional route into becoming a lawyer, I enjoy additional benefits such as earning a competitive wage whilst learning and qualifying with no university debt at the end of my programme.
What challenges have you faced during your apprenticeship?
One of the biggest challenges I faced was entering my career so young. I’m aware I have entered the working world straight from sixth form, There will always be an anxiety when going into a field and being completely new, lacking knowledge, but I feel comfortable speaking to co-workers about any topics. Something I was told on my first day is that there is no such thing as a silly question, especially when you are new to something and that will always be very important to me.
What life skills is your apprenticeship teaching you?
I’m learning how to socialise and interact with people in a professional conduct. I was 16 when Coronavirus began. I tended to communicate with people in my own age range. In this role, I have met many interesting people, from within the legal department. I feel more confident to engage.
What are your plans once you have completed?
Once I have completed my apprenticeship, I would like to practice law as a qualified solicitor. I am excited to learn which area will be of most interest to me whilst undertaking my apprenticeship.
Would you recommend an apprenticeship?
Absolutely. Apprenticeships are a great alternative to traditional post-16 studies, and offer a direct route into a career sector. I gave a short presentation at my old secondary school explaining the benefits of following this route. For young people like me who have a more practical learning style, apprenticeships are more vocational and offer a hands-on style of teaching, in which their natural abilities and skills can flourish.
Business Administration, Level 2
What made you choose this apprenticeship?
I wanted to gain more experience. I wanted more learning skills, flexibility in a full time job. Before, I was at college in an internship and then I went on the Travel Card Team within Business Support Services (BSS), and I was encouraged to go for the apprenticeship in the same team.
What challenges have you faced during your apprenticeship?
Three weeks into March 2020, I had to work from home because of Covid. It was tricky because of the distractions. There was the dog barking, noisy neighbours and we had to go through lock down three times. At that time, I didn't know how to filter this out. There were also connection issues. The broadband in the street was terrible. I just got back to work, by not rushing and just doing it.
Another challenge, was that I had just had an operation for a cochlear implant as I'm partially deaf. I got used to it pretty quickly. I just took my time. I was so used to lip reading, when working over teams, I had to ask people to talk slowly. With the implant, I could hear better using online team meetings.
Stu Neville (Job Coach): I have been supporting Daijon since 2020 at the start of his course. It is important to realise that Daijon was profoundly deaf for the first 16 years of his life prior to his implants. He has had speech therapy all his life but predominantly he had been using British Sign Language. He has really overcome his deafness with the help of his implants and speech therapy. It helps him to hear and he can attend workshops without the need for an interpreter. I'm extremely proud of him and how far he has come in 3 years.
What life skills is your apprenticeship teaching you?
I learnt to be more confident and to be brave in a room full of people. I'm focussed on my work. I learnt about time management and going into the office three times a week. I keep the balance to avoid getting over tired.
What are your plans once you have completed?
I have completed the apprenticeship and I have a full time job working for the Adult Social Care/SEN team within Business Support Services.
Would you recommend an apprenticeship?
I would recommend an apprenticeship. It offers good training and you get a wage. It is low but this can lead to a full time position with an increase in wages.
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