Business Administration Apprentice Review

I manage the HBS inbox (this our division’s main generic inbox) and deal with anything that comes in. I schedule meetings/briefings for the division. I place orders for various WFH equipment: laptops, monitors, office chairs, desks, etc. I generate probation, absence and InfoSec training reports every month and send reminders for colleagues to complete certain forms, etc. and return to me. I currently manage the Director of Finance’s diary. I liaise with other PA’s to schedule meetings for him, I rearrange meetings and overall ensure he doesn’t have any clashes in his diary. I send out weekly communications to the division.

My confidence has massively grown and I am a different person now compared to before starting my apprenticeship. I have become even more independent than I ever have been. My communication skills have developed a lot as I have to liaise with various new people on a daily basis. For example, suppliers, colleagues within other departments, other PAs to arrange meetings, etc. I have recently discovered the world of LinkedIn and I am beginning to understand the importance of networking and how it can benefit me and my career. That is a new skill to me completely.

I enjoy every aspect of my apprenticeship and cannot think of anything bad to say about it! I feel that I have found an area of work that I not only excel in but I also thrive in. My team are great and have made me feel very welcomed and also supported me with everything I do. Another thing to add, the University's apprenticeship network is such an amazing thing and has helped me to speak to and get to know other apprentices, either in a similar role to me or a different role. I think it has made me feel more comfortable and not alone in starting a new apprenticeship and having the option to speak to someone else of a similar age in the same position is comforting.

My apprenticeship is very well organised and I haven't had any issues. When I started in March 2020, I was introduced to my manager and team, as well as other members of the division. I completed any online training that was required and had all the resources I needed. I met my college assessor and training co-ordinator very early on via Teams and they both made it clear that they were there to support me and listen to any worries/problems I may have had. I met my tutor on campus and she again was very supportive and made it clear she was available to talk to. My manager is amazing and has supported me since day one. Any new tasks that are asked of me, she very clearly explained and always offered help if I didn't quite understand something.

My manager is always available to talk to over email or via Teams. I meet with her on Teams on a weekly basis for a catch up and to talk about how I am doing. I meet with a colleague in my division weekly to reflect on my week and chat about how I am doing and in general, she is there to support me if I need it. The University has made it clear that they have many avenues I could go to if I need help or support with something and I am grateful for that.

I meet with my assessor once a month for 2 hours to discuss my progress with college work, any new work I need to complete and how I am getting on in general. If I have any questions about my work in between our meetings, she is more than happy to help and offer support. I meet my training co-ordinator once every couple of months to catch up on how I am doing and whether or not I am on track. Again, I feel that I could ask for help with anything if I needed it.

Very well. Everything I learn from my training provider, has helped me in my day to day role. For example, a lesson I had based around Presentation Skills was very useful and informative. When presenting, I know how to do it well without coming across as nervous. Also, a lesson I had based around Communication Skills was extremely beneficial to my daily duties. As I have previously mentioned, communication is a large part of my role and lesson has made a big difference to how well I now communicate.

My division organises a lot of social events as it is important to sometimes take a break and enjoy a game of bingo or a quiz with colleagues. The Friday Night Quiz happens every fortnight at 8pm and is a great opportunity to have some fun and boost staff engagement. At Christmas, a big quiz was run and I participated in a team made up of 2 people I knew well and 2 that I didn't. A bingo was also organised. Outside of COVID, a Christmas party would usually be organised.

Yes

It is a great place to work for many reasons: - Great holiday allowance - Flexible working hours - All staff are friendly and welcoming - There are so many different departments to work in - A variety of jobs are offered, apprenticeships, full-time jobs, part-time jobs, temporary jobs, etc. - The grounds are beautiful and lovely to walk around - It is very well known globally and the name holds a lot of importance - There are lots of opportunities to second to another department for a year

I found my apprenticeship on the GOV.UK website. The application was detailed and asked a lot of questions so make sure to take your time and tailor your answers to the job role/description. My interview was made up of 3 parts and I met quite a few colleagues whilst at my interview and met the other candidates. Ensure your CV is tailored to the role you are applying for as many people want to work for the University and showing them that you meet the criteria for that role will make them more likely to offer an interview.