Lauren's story

Lauren's story

Age - 21

 

What apprenticeship did you complete/ are you currently completing?

I completed a Level 2 and 3 apprenticeship in Operational Delivery through Middlesbrough Council. This is a combination of Public Services and Business Administration.

 

How did you hear about this apprenticeship?

I heard about apprenticeship schemes in general from my older sister Holly who was an apprentice at the time, but the Operational Delivery was a new apprenticeship that was running at the time I applied.

 

What made you decide to go down the apprenticeship route?

I knew I did not want to go down the route of college or university, and was very keen to start working as soon as I had left school therefore the apprenticeship route was perfect for me.

 

Can you describe a typical day to us?

One day a week, I would spend the morning at Middlesbrough Town Hall to complete apprenticeship work; preparing for a presentation and working on my final project, which would go towards my final qualification. I would return to my place of work on the afternoon to complete my daily tasks.

 

What part of your apprenticeship have you enjoyed the most?

I enjoyed some of the experiences which came with an apprenticeship, for example an ‘apprenticeship challenge’ day which brought together a number of apprentices from around Teesside, to complete team building activities and compete against each town’s apprenticeship team (of course Middlesbrough won 😊). I also really enjoyed the role - I had an amazing team and settled in very quickly, which made the experience as a whole much better.

 

What benefits have you noticed from completing an apprenticeship?

Some of the main benefits would definitely be the experience I gained while working for a professional organisation, in a busy office and being able to work under pressure to meet deadlines. These are basic skills which will prepare any young person for the working world, and in particular, learning to be punctual, professional and respectable which go a long way.

 

Do you feel supported as part of your apprenticeship?

I successfully completed my apprenticeship in 2019 so I haven’t been an apprentice for 2 years, however while I was completing it, my team at the time were very supportive and had a very flexible approach to my working hours to accommodate my time at Middlesbrough Council. I also received a lot of support from Middlesbrough Council, including monthly check-ins with my apprenticeship manager and employer to discuss my progress and conduct welfare checks.

 

Why would you recommend it to others?

I would definitely recommend an apprenticeship to anybody who wants to learn and develop themselves, whilst earning an income and gaining a skillset of organisation, interpersonal, communication and many more skills which can only come from practical learning. I personally think the apprenticeship route is more beneficial than an academic route. I have built professional relationships, gained confidence and learnt so much at such a young age – I started mine at 17 years old and I am now 21, have continued working for Cleveland Police and have recently joined a new role in a new department.

 

Anything else you would like to add?

One thing in particular I was very grateful for, was the ability to transfer my apprenticeship to a new organisation. I started my apprenticeship working for Middlesbrough Register Office, with a long term goal of joining the Force. When the opportunity arose to apply to Cleveland Police and I was successful, Middlesbrough Council were very helpful and supportive in making the necessary changes so that I could continue my apprenticeship in my new job.

 

To find out more about the range of opportunities available at our Force, visit our Careers page. 

Expressions of interest are also open for our Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA) opportunity.