HR Apprentice Review

My role varies from day to day. Some days I will process Flexible Working Requests or I will process New Starters joining the business. These are both lengthy tasks which require concentration and good admin skills. I will continue to support the new starters until they join the business. I liaise with other departments for a variety of tasks which could include offering support or passing on information. I support my team with ad-hoc tasks such as finding addresses or putting things onto our HR system. I answer queries via email and phone and I also attend meetings as and when needed.

Yes, personal and professional development is so important at Newcastle Building Society. I am currently working towards my level 3 qualification in HR which will support me and allow me to complete my role at the same level as everyone else. We regularly have training sessions which were both in and outside of the office. We have a digital development space which all staff have access to. This has a variety of resources you can work through. My role has supported my learning of everyday office tasks, admin, it has built my confidence, working as part of a team and on my own and how to use a variety of HR systems.

I thoroughly enjoy my programme. The workload and pace is enough to keep you busy but not too much, it is also at a level I think is good. The team I work with are so supportive, they are happy to answer any questions and will sit and go through things with you if you need more support. We have regular catch up's in the week as we are now working remotely. This gives us a chance to discuss any difficulties we are having as well as a social catch up. The wider HR team are so positive and want to help support the business to become the best it can be.

My programme is organised and structured. I have a session once a month with my training provider to go through the sessions, I also have regular catch ups with my tutor too. These are sometimes with my line manager. It is my responsibility to ensure I have adequate time to focus on my apprenticeship throughout the week and meet any deadline I have. I have meetings with my mentor regularly and I can phone or email if I need further support. During my meetings with my line manager, we discuss what I would like to learn or do next with regards to daily tasks my team do, this gives me some control over my learning.

I receive a lot of support from my employer. Everyone wants you to succeed and do well. I have lots of support across the business. We have a peer support group once every few weeks. The support group consists of other apprentices, undergraduates, and graduates and we can talk about the challenges we face and get support from others in a similar situation. I can speak to my mentor, we normally catch up every few weeks but if I needed support quicker or earlier than that, I can call or email. Having a mentor is nice because it's a completely different perspective to your own.

I receive a lot of support from my tutor. If I have a question, I can email or phone her. The sessions we have are detailed and any questions are answered. My tutor is really supportive and the sessions we have with her can also offer support. The company sent a textbook to each of us to support our learning. There are resources on their page as well to support your learning. At the end of each session, there is a slide with resources we could use as further reading.

When I started my qualification, I had no experience in an office or in HR. My qualification helps me on a daily basis with day to day tasks but it also helps me understand what others are talking about. A lot of what we learn can be used in the workplace and learning about legislation to begin with really helped me know what to do. I feel a lot more confident doing my role now I have had the sessions with my tutor.

There is a lot you can be getting involved with at Newcastle Building Society. We are allowed two days off work to volunteer. There are social events in each department and also more general events we can all attend. There is a gym at the head office site. We currently have virtual sessions running to better our mental health and give us time to focus on ourselves. We also have the staff association which host different events at cheaper prices.

Yes

Newcastle Building Society is a great place to work. The culture is supportive and looks at improving the workplace and colleagues. Different training sessions are available and some optional sessions are great. Colleagues are lovely and you feel welcomed and included straight away. They are people focused and want to make a difference in the local community too. The pay is excellent and the flexibility is great in terms of work hours, location and development.

Really do your research into the role you want and Newcastle Building Society as a company. Be honest about yourself and why you want the job, it's not always about experience but willingness and enthusiasm go a long way. Be prepared due to COVID, most interviews and assessment days are now virtual but don't let that stop you. I would recommend applying for a job even if you don't feel confident about it.