Swindon Borough Council's Own Apprentices Supporting Swindon's Communities

It's National Apprenticeship Week and Swindon Borough Council apprentices Kara Jell and Liam Davies have been finding out for themselves about the world of work, and picking up valuable skills and experience along the way.

Kara, 18, from North Swindon, is currently a year into her 18-month Level 3 apprenticeship in Business Administration, while Liam, 19, is in Year 1 of a two-year apprenticeship in the Council’s Housing Department.

Both were keen to get straight into a working environment without going right through college and the idea of an apprenticeship fitted the bill. The Council has provided both of them with a huge range of work skills and challenges in a variety of roles.

Kara, who was a pupil at Kingsdown School, already had work experience as an assistant at Nationwide Building Society in Pipers Way, and was keen to follow a structured training programme while being in work.

She said: “I really enjoyed it and wanted to take on another post rather than staying at college. I discovered that the Council offered apprenticeships, came for an interview and was taken on to work in the Routes to Employment team. It’s a great jumping off point for the future.”

One of a number of paid apprentices working for the Council, Kara's role takes in a wide range of expertise, including finance, budgeting, contract management and organising meetings and conferences. Add to that administering invoices, handling contract tenders, minute-taking at meetings, and working on surveys, and no two days are the same.

“The variety is endless”, she said. “I’ve really enjoyed the variety and learned a huge amount, and have had the chance to take on some really big projects. Particular highlights have been the Swindon Apprenticeship Awards last year and JobFest last month, when I coordinated a lot of the arrangements, including employer liaison, brochure design, catering requirements and collating post-event feedback.

“My structured training programme means working through a set of modules which are signed off by my Swindon College ‘Business First’ assessor, who comes into the Council to observe me in the workplace carrying out a wide range of tasks. When I complete the training I will get an Advanced Apprenticeship award in Business and Administration. This is equivalent to two ‘A’ levels.

“And I’ve now been offered a full-time job in the Council after my apprenticeship, which is great, and will give me the chance to continue gaining career experience in a challenging and worthwhile environment.”

Liam, too, wasted no time in getting stuck into his role. Having started last September, he is on a Level 2 apprenticeship for his first year, working on Tenant Participation and sheltered housing schemes.

The job involves him working with a number of Tenant Groups including the Penhill Street Reps and the Tenant Academy, providing support across a number of areas and activities, including tenant events, leaflet drops, training provision, data collation and IT tuition. Other training has included fire safety, procurement, office processes and housing legislation.

Another challenge has been helping administer the Tenants’ Association for Sheltered Housing Bursary, providing sheltered housing schemes with grants for tenant training and support.  “I was already working with a tenants group before I started here,” said Liam, who lives in Blunsdon. “So this seemed a natural choice and the opportunity to build on my experience.

“After school in Spain and then Kingsdown School, I enrolled at college but wanted to do something that would give me paid work and training at the same time, so when I got the apprenticeship I was thrilled.  My managers allow me time in the week to study and complete the assignments.  Some apprentices attend college one day a week but this depends on the type of apprenticeship.

“Profiting from the IT skills I have acquired, I also help run monthly Digital Inclusion courses for the library service

“When I move on to a Level 3 Apprenticeship in my second year, I will have the chance to switch to another team if I want, and get different experience. Possible options are estate or property management. The apprenticeship will provide me an NVQ Level 3 and a Chartered Institute of Housing qualification.  In all it’s proving a great experience and I’m certain it will lead to excellent career opportunities.”

Keen to share their positive experiences with impending school-leavers, Kara and Liam were delighted to attend a careers event at Ridgeway School this week as part of National Apprenticeship Week.

Kara and Liam are pictured at the Council HQ.

People wanting to know more about apprenticeships should check out National Apprenticeship Week, Total Guide to Apprenticeships and Your Options at 16.  Parents are encouraged to get onto the getingofar.gov.uk/parents for apprenticeship-guidance.