To celebrate National Apprenticeship Week 2023, we’re taking the opportunity to introduce some of the learners on our Level 3 and Level 5 Management Apprenticeship programmes and ask them to share the different (and sometimes surprising!) ways that their apprenticeships have helped them to develop, grow and succeed in their roles.
In line with this year’s theme – Skills for Life – we have interviewed some of our apprentices about their programmes and the skills they have been gaining and developing on them. The skills covered in the Level 3 (Team Leader/Supervisor) and Level 5 (Operations/Departmental Manager) apprenticeship standards are skills for life in every way; they help apprentices to undetake highly effective management and leadership whatever sector they work in and at whatever stage of their career they have reached.
Read on to meet Sarah and Kate and find out about their favourite elements of the programme, how their day-to-day work has benefitted from their learning, and more!
Hi Kate! Thanks for speaking to us. Firstly, what do you do and how long have you been in that role?
I’m a Learning Officer at the Great North Museum: Hancock and I’ve been there for 10 years.
Which apprenticeship programme are you on?
The Level 5 Operations/Departmental Manager
What skill or area of your day-to-day work do you think has benefitted the most from your apprenticeship?
I’ve found the sessions dealing with finance very helpful. I don’t deal with huge budgets, but I’d never had any formal finance training so it’s been really helpful both to gain skills and to learn the vocabulary for talking to our accountant!
What topic from your apprenticeship have you found easiest to transfer into your day-to-day work, and why?
As part of reflecting on my own practice and thinking about how I work, I set up a new to-do list on Trello which helps me manage my time daily, weekly and further ahead. It’s a really simple change which has helped lots with organising myself. I even included buttons to press for delegating tasks to my team.
What’s the most interesting thing you’ve learned on your apprenticeship? (about yourself OR about management & leadership theory/practice)?
Problem solving and decision making were some of the issues I knew I wanted to tackle through the course and they have been very helpful.
What’s been your favourite element of the of the programme?
I enjoy working with other people in the taught sessions – it’s great to get other perspectives both from others within my organisation and those working in different sectors.
What surprised you most about your apprenticeship?
I don’t think the outcomes of my self-reflection were exactly a surprise, but they were certainly a great insight on myself!
What advice would you pass on to anyone starting a management apprenticeship?
Keep up with the work if you possibly can – it’s much easier than having to make it up. Also, talk to the course tutor if anything doesn’t make sense, or is difficult to evidence from your current role (after all this should be training you to move on in management, not just recording what you already do). I’ve found my tutor really helpful and constructive.
Thanks again for speaking to us Kate! To finish – the theme of National Apprenticeship Week 2023 is ‘Skills for Life’ – of the skills you’ve developed or enhanced during your programme, which one do you think will benefit you the most for the rest of your career?
Thinking about how to work with a team who have lots of different preferred working and learning styles – how to make that a positive rather than a problem to be overcome.
Hi Sarah! Thanks for speaking to us. Firstly, what do you do and how long have you been in that role?
I’ve been a Learning & Development Business Partner for three years and working in L&D for 10 years.
Which apprenticeship programme are you on?
Level 3 Team Leader/Supervisor
What skill or area of your day-to-day work do you think has benefitted the most from your apprenticeship?
My relationship building and communication skills with others, both internally with peers and colleagues and externally as part of my role with training providers and suppliers.
What topic from your apprenticeship have you found easiest to transfer into your day-to-day work, and why?
For me, the project management elements gave me loads of tools and technique to utilise. I have usefully implemented project plans, templates and good practice approaches into my role for the benefit of myself and others.
What’s the most interesting thing you’ve learned on your apprenticeship? (about yourself OR about management & leadership theory/practice)?
Stick with what you know works and the tools that serve you well, there may be many theories and approaches out there to learn about but find the one that work best and resonates for you.
What’s been your favourite element of the of the programme?
Working with others during the classroom based sessions. Also, hearing positive feedback from my manager about my progress and growth during the apprenticeship.
What surprised you most about your apprenticeship?
How much my confidence increased. I set out on the apprenticeship to enhance my managerial skills but one of the unexpected outcomes was how much more confident I feel in myself now when I approach tasks, projects and even difficult meetings!
Thanks so much for speaking to us Sarah. Finally – what advice would you pass on to anyone starting a management apprenticeship?
Be prepared to put the work in and get organised from the outset to give it the time and energy it needs. Don’t be afraid to ask for feedback or help you’ll be surprised how much your colleagues, managers and peers will support you during your Apprenticeship.
Eliesha runs both open and closed programmes for the Level 3 (Team Leader/Supervisor) and Level 5 (Operations/Departmental Manager) Apprenticeship Standards – meaning we enrol individuals who come together to form a cohort from multiple organisations, and we organise internal programmes made up entirely of learners from the same employer.
To start the conversation about how Management Apprenticeships can support your organisational learning needs and, whether you are spending Levy funds or claiming non-Levy funding, represent a very cost effective development solution, send us an email or fill out an enquiry form to arrange an exploratory chat.
Our next open programmes will be starting later this year and closed programmes can start whenever your learners are ready, so we will have the flexibility to support you.
