Apprentice Communications Officer Review

My role as apprentice communications officer means I build close relationships with our stakeholders to ensure they’re kept in the loop of any construction work we’re doing. Whilst working on the LPTIP scheme, I have been in close communication with business owners who are in the construction area, residents, the general public and our client, Leeds City Council. I regularly email and meet with our stakeholders to give them information about the progress of our work and hold weekly meetings with Leeds City Council to discuss the work we’ve done. I’m also responsible for the tracking and recording of new employees, updating a document which holds information of what communication we’ve done with our stakeholders and recording all correspondence into one document. We also work closely with schools local to the areas we’re working in to deliver talks on construction site safety and promote engineering as a career for students to consider.

I enjoying my programme to a fairly high extent. I enjoy the job I'm doing and find it has been a very new experience for me. I'm able to learn new skills everyday and explore the world of engineering and construction through first hand experience. The course I'm studying is also interesting but also practical to everyday life, and I'm able to use the knowledge and experience I gain from this apprenticeship in my future work life.

I receive a lot of support from my peers at work. My line manager and project manager have been excellent at welcoming me in to an industry I knew virtually nothing about. Now I know a lot more about the engineering world through the support of my employer, and they have offered me various opportunities to make a difference in the company such as undertaking mental health first aid training in October 2020 and visiting different projects across the country to gain some inspiration on how we can implement different ideas into our Leeds project.

The support I've gained from Learning Skills Partnership has been great. I know I can always contact my tutor when needed for any support and assistance in my work without worry of disappointment. My tutor has helped me gain valuable knowledge that I can use in my workplace as well as personal life, and has allowed me to further develop my knowledge on business. My course and exam details have been thoroughly explained to me so I know exactly what I need to do to get the grade I need once my apprenticeship is over.

My qualification has allowed me to greatly understand the world of business, it's structure and how it works in general. There is also a module included in the course related to stakeholder engagement and communication, which is directly related to the job I'm doing with Sisk. I understand deeply how John Sisk work as a business through it's organisational structure and supply chains and how it aims to achieve its vision and mission.

We often hold social activities outside of working hours as a way of allowing the team to get to know each other on a personal level, but also to celebrate any milestones in our work or special events that have taken place. There are also various training opportunities which are helpful to have outside of the workplace. For example, mental health first aid training and manual handling training. There has also been discussions of creating a Sisk football team, but that is yet to be confirmed.

Yes

It's an excellent company to work for for various reasons. The support you gain from this company is incredible. I was very new to the engineering industry when first starting my apprenticeship but my managers and colleagues were great at welcoming me in and showing me exactly what I need to. There are also plenty opportunities to get to know the team outside of work and build close relationships with your colleagues. Also, the company as a whole are very accommodating and flexible towards your needs, whether you need an early finish/start to work due to appointments or other commitments.

Don't be afraid of asking questions or for support on your work - the team are very helpful, supportive and understanding.