HR Apprentice Review

Invoices, booking courses, payroll input, dealing with payroll queries, managing the central online training programmes, admin for new starters and leavers, reviewing CV's before sending to managers, setting up interviews, creating interview structures

Learnt more about the Real Estate business. Developed my ability to prioritise and manage workload and have a greater attention to detail.

I enjoy learning about the roles in my organisation and gaining insight into many different procedures, why they are done, how they are done etc. At first you do find it a bit repetitive doing a lot of admin, but through doing admin it gives you a base of understanding and so that you can start being involved in projects. I have enjoyed the projects I've been involved in so far, as this is something I wouldn't of been able to gain hands on experience in, in university. I'm looking forward to being involved in more as my apprenticeship continues.

I work in M&G Real Estate, but my team thank me all the time for doing things for them and give good feedback to my manager if I've done something well so it does make you feel appreciated when you get this.

I was given a list of things that my buddy would take me through in my first few weeks when I joined, which didn't get followed in order but was all covered so there was a structure when I joined. As time progressed it became a bit less structured, as I would be given insight into projects as they came up.

all of the lessons I have with BPP are online, which are still quite interactive despite not being in a physical classroom. My tutors are always available if I need them and I have individual catch ups with them throughout my course. I also send my tutor a plan for each assignment before I start typing it up and she comes back to me really quickly even if I send it on a Friday she'll look over it on the weekend for me and send her comments over.

My manager is always happy for me to ask any questions regarding my course and gives me half a day off a week for study leave, which I usually just book a room in the office for or will go home if I have an online lesson that day.

My salary is very manageable for my age, as I live at home with my parents I only give about £150 to my month every month for rent. At first it was a bit harder because I had a lot of expenses when I was taking driving lessons, but now I've passed my test so don't have a need to spend as much. Having an apprentice oyster card does also bring down the cost of travel quite a lot. I think if I were to get car right now I would probably struggle a bit, but this isn't in my plans for now because I wouldn't have much of a use for one.

M&G Real Estate don't really have that many social events, but as we are a part of M&G Investments we can take part in their ones which there are a lot of e.g. discounts on theatre tickets.

Yes

I don't work in M&G Investments but would recommend M&G Real Estate, as the business is a lot smaller I think it makes it easier to connect with all departments and learn a bit from everyone. Also, I am the first apprentice here so have been the guinea pig but can say I have learnt far more than what my friends have told they've learnt in university!

Try to find work experience in an area of interest just so that you have an idea of whether you will be genuinely interested in it or not because you will need to study for a qualification in that area too, so it is a big investment! Demonstrating an interest in M&G and the role you're applying for is very important, as they will be investing their time and money in you so want to be sure that you'll be willing to learn throughout. Also, just show your personality, M&G believe in giving everyone a chance os do not solely focus on your grades, what you've achueved at school etc. but also your personality and how you'd fit in the business, so I'd say be yourself throughout!