Business Admin Apprentice Review

My role is to support the general admin process of my company, including data entry, writing email and other documents, supporting staff with other projects such as programme recruitment, calling on phones and other assorted tasks such as HR, facilitating team meetings and various other bits of research surrounding our industry.

In terms of the work I am doing, I have learnt many new skills such as professional emailing and phone calls as well as how to work as part of a business team of many different and like-minded people. Initiative has also been important and transferable skills such as good verbal and written communication and data analysis.

I very much enjoy the programme! I think it depends a lot on the particular mentor you have, as you will get along with some better than others. Not because they mean harm, mind, but just because you will have different styles of working, which is fine. But overall it has been a good experience.

The programme is structured fairly well and once explained makes a fair bit of sense, my only flaw here is that the structure was not explained to me clearly at first, leaving me confused about what I should be aiming for until later. Once that was cleared up though, it was fine.

I received a lot of support from my employer including time dedicated to finishing my tasks, acknowledgement of the importance of what I was doing, patience to train me and answer my questions as they came up but also respect enough to let me try new things when they came up.

My training provider provided a decent amount of support. They kept me up to date on what tasks I should be doing and were generally contactable when I needed to ask a question about an assignment or otherwise. They also provided me good feedback on handing in assignments, which helped later.

I think it helps in some parts, such as learning methods for change management or the process that can go behind developing a project. In terms of other things however, it usually doesn't come too much into play or kind of fades into my own knowledge, this may be because I started the apprenticeship at a later age.

Considering the time-frame in which I have done my apprenticeship (i.e. Pandemic) there has been a limit. but there have been training days virtually as well as the occasional outdoor activity such as Easter egg hunts, picnics and so on. There will likely be even more in future, which will be nice.

No

The admin, at least in my experience, was a nightmare to deal with. They will change things, but often over a longer time than is necessary and with chasing by the apprentice. They are nice and sympathetic so I would say consider with caution. They are also sometimes vague about what they want you to do, though this may just be my experience.

It is a good company for those who are just starting out, but perhaps not for those who are older. In terms of applying, treat it like any other job interview with the same standards and everything. They are nice enough, so give them a chance but do not be passive.