Business Administration Apprentice Review

I work in the directorate office supporting 2 personal assistants and the head of the laboratory. My daily duties include booking travel (taxi's, trains, flights etc), accommodation, refreshments and meeting rooms. I have to make sure that meeting rooms are available and sufficient in capacity for the size of the meeting. Additionally I handle the departmental Twitter account by sending out Tweets and responding to any comments. I support in meetings by writing the minutes/notes

I am currently learning and developing my minute taking skills which prior to this role I had never done before. I am also improving my communicative skills with dealing with high profile people and visitors. The job also requires me to be extremely organised and time conscientious to stick to schedules.

I really enjoy working for STFC as there are so many different opportunities for me to take on. I am not just stuck within the one role at the moment as I am currently working on various projects and tasks which is also giving me valuable experience in areas that I really enjoy in work such as social media and being creative.

The work side of things is extremely organised and well structured, I am very well supported by my company also. With regards to the College I am currently with, I do think there could be quite a few improvements on how lessons and 1:1 sessions are done. I also find the structure of the course slightly confusing. However, overall I think it is fairly well structured.

My employer is extremely supportive towards me. If I am stuck or struggling at all with anything then there is always some one to go to for help. For example I have had a few issues with the college, however the company I work for has an apprenticeship coordinator who I could go to with any queries I may have.

I have a tutor who I can contact - sometimes replies are quite slow but overall I am satisfied that I get an answer to any questions I may have. There have also been a few teething problems to start with, however I would say that my tutor has always seemed keen to help me out with anything I needed help with.

My qualification works alongside my job role really well, as I am taught various IT skills within the college such as Excel spreadsheets which help me in my role. I have therefore put the theory I have been taught into a real situation which has helped me. Additionally it has helped me to understand more about the company and organisation that I work for and how it benefits the UK

There are lots of extra activities in which I am involved with. For example, I will be starting the Virgin walking challenge which provides a team of 8 with a Fitbit so that we can measure our exercise activity and compare with others. This gives me a really good opportunity to get to know more people that I may not have met day to day. It also encourages me to lead a healthier lifestyle

Yes

I have felt really welcomed in the time that I have been here and have met some really nice people. I can already see there is a lot of room for progression within the company and it is highly encouraged for staff to do the best they possibly can. There is also a really friendly and pleasant atmosphere which helps keep everyone motivated to work as best they can.

I would advise them to come in with an open mind as there are so many different types of people on all sorts of levels. It is an extremely interesting place to work and no two days are the same. I would also advise doing as much research as possible about the company before you attend an interview.