Apprentice to Professional
Holly - Graduate Trainee Planner
I started my career at Devon County Council in 2020 as a
Level 3 Business Administration Apprentice, working as a Finance Assistant in
the Payments team. Completing the Business Admin apprenticeship gave me the
relevant skills that I could then apply in the workplace, including project
management, the use of different systems, and being aware of external factors
that can affect the organisation. Having one day a week to complete my studies
gave me the opportunity to gain a recognised qualification, whilst learning a
host of transferable skills that I’ll be able to use throughout my career.
Since completing the Level 3 Business Administration
Apprenticeship, I have now started a new role as a Graduate Trainee Planner in
the Climate Change, Environment and Transport team. My current role gives me
the opportunity to gain an insight in to what it’s like to be a Planner working
for the minerals and waste local authority; I get to experience a real mix of
working in the office and going to quarries and landfill sites all around
Devon. My new role will also give me the opportunity to complete the Level 7
Chartered Town Planner Degree Apprenticeship at Plymouth University in
September. Completing this apprenticeship will allow me to use the skills that
I’ve learnt in the classroom and apply them to my role as a Trainee Planner.
Despite working from home for the majority of my career at
Devon County Council, I’ve still been able to understand what it’s like to be
an apprentice; it’s rewarding, challenging, motivating, inspiring and exciting!
By being prepared to learn some new skills, I’ve been able to understand how
valuable apprenticeships can be to upskill whilst continuing along our career
paths.
Being an apprentice has also given me the opportunity to become
a part of the South West Apprenticeship Ambassador Network (SWAAN). The network
is a place where you can help to inspire students about apprenticeships who are
maybe unsure about where to go next in their journey. I’ve been able to take
part in a variety of events as an ambassador, from attending a virtual Q&A
assembly to showing a day in my life on SWAAN’s Instagram page. I also volunteer
as the Devon County Lead for the network, which has given me the opportunity to
learn so many new skills, such as networking, public speaking, attending
webinars, and developing my leadership skills; all of which have helped to improve
my confidence and given me the relevant skills that I can carry with me
throughout my career and helped me to get to where I am now.
Apprenticeships really are an amazing way to start your
career or to upskill in the workplace. Completing an apprenticeship has allowed
me to understand the progression that is available to new roles and
higher-level apprenticeships, and I am now able to appreciate the array of skills
and opportunities that apprenticeships have to offer.
Holly
Graduate Trainee Planner
Climate Change, Environment and Transport team
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