HR apprentice Review

I will be required to answers calls and reply to emails which involve resolving employee queries, queries include anything from pay to support with policies and procedures. The HR hub is the first point of contact for employees across Severn Trent so my aim is to provide an excellent service.

I've had the opportunity to develop my communication skills by listening to employee queries and supporting them as best as I can. My organisation skills have also improved as I have to ensure that I manage my que according so that employees are receiving replies within the companies SLA.

I enjoy that I am able to study towards gaining my Level 5 CIPD qualification and get workplace experience which is relevant and supports my understanding theoretically. I am able to use real work life experiences as examples in my assignments which I find extremely beneficial in progressing my knowledge.

This is the first year in which Severn Trent have introduced the human resource apprenticeship and therefore my programme isn't as structured as I hoped. I'm unaware of how my programme will pan out and which areas of HR I will be rotating to further develop my skills.

I have arranged study days with my line manager to allow me time to progress through independent study, which again isn’t as structured as I hoped. My line manager has allowed me to spend some time with colleagues in other areas of HR to assist with my assignment when required.

My workshops with my training provider are one day a month. If I have any queries, I am able to email my tutor for additional guidance. Feedback I receive from my tutor in previous assignments is detailed which is a learning curve and allows me to upskill in future assignments.

The qualifications give me a real understanding of why HR is functioned in the way it is and the reason behind certain policies and procedures, this helps me perform better in my role due to acknowledging the importance of behaving ethically and according to the company’s code of conduct guidelines.

As a team we have socially been out for work meals as a way of bonding and getting to know each other in a non-working environment. Apprentices at Severn Trent have also socially made plans for extracurricular activities e.g. bowling where experienced apprentices provide support for new apprentice starters.

Yes

Opportunities offered at Severn Trent are endless not to mention the ethical background the company upkeeps. Due to Severn Trent being a larger company, I believe progression and the opportunity to upskill is available for all. I also believe pay and benefits are above average which is a huge motivator.

The interview stage was extremely intense, so I would recommend that plenty of planning goes into the group interview to stand out from the other candidates. To practice your presentation skills, try presenting to a group of family or friends prior to the interview, this helped with my nerves immensely.