Career Track - Apprenticeships

Nancy  – Business Administration level 2 > Business Administration Level 3

Starting as an apprentice in the Council run Leisure Centre, I was undertaking  a Level 2 in Business & Administration. I applied for this role not knowing much about apprenticeships, as I feel they’re not spoken about enough in schools; all I knew was that I had to get a job quickly as I had decided to drop out of university.

As my apprenticeship was coming to an end I applied for a more advanced role, which was also a permanent position – Administration and Projects Officer in the Regeneration Department of Tendring District Council.  I was given the chance to carry on my learning by completing my Level 3 in Business & Administration, which of course I decided to do. I’ve now completed my Level 3 and I am still happily working in the same role.

I do think it’s amazing how much you’re encouraged to further your skills in local government and for that reason I would recommend anyone thinking about doing an apprenticeship to go for it.

Despite staying in the same role, I am so pleased to have a Level 3 qualification on my CV and I feel like I wouldn’t have achieved this if it wasn’t for the apprenticeship, as I would have found it extremely difficult to work and study separately – it’s definitely a benefit to be paid and study at the same time, a great opportunity for young people.

I was unsure on what my future career aspirations would be when I first applied for the apprenticeship, and if I’m honest, after 3 years of working in local government,  I am still unsure what my dream job is, but for now I’m enjoying my current role a lot. Being a projects officer means I support colleagues with different projects and events, so there’s always something different happening which is what I love the most about my job.   

Annie – Business Administration Level 2 > Customer Service Level 3

I started as an apprentice at Tendring District Council on 4th January 2016 where I joined the Customer Support team dealing with council housing repairs and housing reception (homelessness, etc). Prior to starting my apprenticeship I was in Sixth Form and realised I had enough of sitting in a classroom and didn’t really want to go to university as I didn’t enjoy it at all. I then signed up to the government website and had a look at apprenticeships in my local area.

Once I started the apprenticeship I was given jobs such as filing and general admin duties. My responsibilities grew as I started assisting customers at the Housing reception desk; assisting the homeless and people in need of housing advice. I also went on to learn about housing repairs where I was given a large role to answer the majority of the phone calls for the team.  This was a very big responsibility and I had to deal with all types of people which certainly opened my eyes and I soon realised that I wanted to gain more experience in this area. I decided to ask our building surveyors in Building Services if I could go out on visits with them to see the properties we manage and learn about what they do. This is when I knew I wanted to go into the Building and Construction industry and would love to become a building surveyor.

Luckily, after a year of being within the Customer Support team, a vacancy came up within Building Services, looking for administration support.  I successfully got the job and was in the department I wished to be in. Apprenticeships are great to get you into the working environment whilst gaining professional qualifications. They give you an idea of where you would like to end up; I never thought I’d be aiming towards being a building surveyor!  If it wasn’t for the apprenticeship programme I don’t know what I’d be doing now. It was definitely the best decision I have made and wouldn’t change a thing!

Cheyenne – Customer Support Level 2 > Customer Service Level 3

I first joined Tendring District Council in February 2017 as an apprentice in Housing Reception and Repairs.  Before I applied for the apprenticeship I was working in my favourite tea room. It was a lovely job but it was not a career. I needed something with more stability and goals to work towards.

I was originally very nervous about starting an apprenticeship in local government, I believed it was beyond me and I would not be good enough to have a career in a big important organisation like this.

Three months in to my apprenticeship I discovered a full time job opportunity within the Council that appealed to me. I spent days plucking up the courage to apply for it but feared I would not be taken seriously because I was a very new apprentice with only little experience. I had the interview and later that same day I received a phone call to tell me my interview was a success and I had been offered the position. And just like that, after only three months I gained a full time job.

Without the apprenticeship I would never have had the opportunity to be able to apply for my current job role as it was only posted internally within the Council and now I am finally in a job that I love that can also offer me career progression should I want to move up the ladder.

I now work for the Tenancy Management team at Tendring District Council - Tenancy Management Admin Support Officer. I support the officers in my office by taking calls, logging complaints and other various admin duties. I am also responsible for the letting of Council garages.

I would advise anyone to go for an apprenticeship and stick with it. It can be a struggle working full time and not getting a full wage but it is one year out of your whole life where you get to learn new things and take the first steps into a real career. Be patient because all that hard work will be worth it in the end.

National Apprenticeship Week 2022 - success story videos

The Customer Service Specialist Apprenticeship at Level 3 is a qualification that combines the knowledge, skills and behaviours required of the standard and includes functional skills in maths and English.  

Delivery will be in the workplace with an assessor or coach through a combination of assessing, coaching, training and mentoring.

The minimum duration on the apprenticeship is 15 months, with an additional 3 months for an externally assessed end point assessment.  A total of 18 months plus functional skills if required.

Further information on the standard can be viewed here:

https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/customer-service-specialist-v1-0

The Public Service Operational Delivery Officer Apprenticeship at Level 3 is a qualification that combines the knowledge, skills and behaviours required of the standard and includes functional skills in maths and English. 

Apprentices will also undertake a Level 2 Award in Operational Delivery (Principles).  This allows learners to develop the knowledge required for employment and/or career progression within Operational Delivery. The qualification includes units on principles of working in operational delivery, providing customer service, equality and diversity. 

The Level 3 Certificate in Operation Delivery (Advanced) allows learners to develop the knowledge required for employment and/or career progression within Operational Delivery. The qualification includes units on working in operational delivery, providing customer service, managing team performance, operational delivery interviews and visits.

The minimum duration on the apprenticeship is 12 months, with an additional 6 months for an externally assessed end point assessment.  A total of 18 months plus functional skills if required.

Further information on the standard can be viewed here -

https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/public-service-operational-delivery-officer-v1-1