Business Administration Apprentice Review

My role involves handling administrative tasks for teams of engineers, such as formatting documents according to company guidelines, drafting invoices to send to clients, and helping to prepare proposals for potential projects. I also take minutes during internal team meetings and have to always be willing to take on any ad-hoc tasks that may arise at any time.

I have learnt many new skills thanks to my apprenticeship. I have become more competent and efficient in using Microsoft Office, particularly Word and Excel. My organisational skills have improved as it is vital that I am always aware of deadlines, and I have also developed better attention to detail as I ensure that my work comes across as polished and professional.

I enjoy the programme very much. The course itself is engaging and I particularly enjoy researching and writing assignments, as this teaches me about the external business world and how my company slots into it. The skills and knowledge I am taught in the workplace go nicely with the lessons by my tutor and help to put the work I do into context.

The programme is quite well-structured. Lessons take place for half a day every three weeks, with assignments set at each lesson, and I find that this is a good frequency as I have enough time to complete assignments between lessons as well as my regular work duties. My tutor also organises progress reviews with myself and my manager every few months which helps me keep track of what I'm doing well and what I could improve on.

The company I work for is very passionate about apprenticeships and development, so I receive a lot of support. My manager particularly is always willing to help with my assignments and keeps track of my progress, and I am always given the time I need to complete work for my course.

I receive a good amount of support from my training provider when working towards my qualifications. My tutor has made it clear throughout the course that we can contact her whenever we have any questions about our course or its content, and she replies promptly, and we also have many lesson resources available online that we can review at any time, which is very helpful.

I feel that my course helps me to perform better as it provides a deeper understanding of the context of my work, which provides motivation by demonstrating its importance. It also ensures that I dedicate time to developing new skills, as 20% of my working hours must go towards new learning, so this means I am constantly learning.

There are regular social events that take place every few months among the teams, whether it is going to the pub after work, going for a meal, or playing a game like shuffleboard. There are also different talks that employees can attend to broaden their knowledge of many different topics.

Yes

Senior staff are genuinely interested in the wellbeing and development of apprentices, and are patient with us as we learn how to perform our job roles. They make time to support us and teach us new skills. There is also a healthy and balanced workplace culture, and the mental health of employees is made a priority.

Be yourself during the interview process. This company invests in people, so let your personality show. Be enthusiastic about why you want to complete an apprenticeship and what you think the benefits of it will be for you. Show that you are willing to learn and develop and that you will take pride in your achievements.