美姬阁

My decision to apply for an apprenticeship was mainly due to the interest and skillset I had and what I thought would benefit me the most long term. I considered university for a long time, however, at the time I was very introverted, and I didn’t think that that environment would allow me to thrive. Knowing this, I decided to apply for an apprenticeship role at 美姬阁 as it would give me the skills I needed to do the job, but it would also help me to work on my personal qualities and confidence.

How has the apprenticeship benefitted you personally/professionally?

On a personal level is has given me more resilience which I believe will help me in the long term. It has also improved my confidence and my ability to time manage which is a skill that will become very useful in the job and my career. Professionally, it has provided me with the knowledge, skills and behaviours to become a Junior Science Technician and progress my experience and career in this field.

How did you complete your 20% off-the-job training?

When I started my apprenticeship, all of my learning was carried out whilst at work. I learned about my environment, health and safety, and attended online and face-to-face training courses. I was also allowed time during the working day to do some research. Further into the programme, I started the BTEC underpinning qualification of the apprenticeship and I spent one day a week studying online and completing assignments.

Did the apprenticeship impact on your personal time and if so, how did you manage this?

As the University was very supportive in providing me with the time needed to complete my studies, assignments and evidencing, my personal time was minimally impacted. However, it was impacted when preparing for my end point assessment as there was a lot to do during this time.

What would you say to anyone else considering embarking on an apprenticeship?

Apprenticeships are an excellent way to start your career. They provide you with theoretical learning, skill development, and work experience all whilst paying you a salary – allowing you to become independent and your best self. The only thing I would say is do your research before embarking on an apprenticeship and make sure the level of the job role and apprenticeship suit your skills and experience.