Now that the results are out, some people may be thinking twice about uni being the right option for them. We realise that college and university aren’t necessarily for everyone. To take up an Apprenticeship and earn while you learn is a fantastic alternative, and one that can even give you the equivalent of a degree.
Here at Enterprise Business Support we offer Apprenticeships in Customer Service and Business Administration in a number of departments. You will be studying to attain an NVQ Level 2 right up to Level 5, which is the equivalent of a Higher National Diploma (HND), depending on your current experience and skills level. Emma Lunn, currently on Business Admin Level 2 says that it isn’t difficult to manage training and work:
“I would recommend coming on an Apprenticeship at Enterprise Rent-A-Car to anyone who wants to start a career in administration as the course itself isn’t as difficult and time consuming as one might think and what you gain from it is all about what you put in.”
After GCSEs or A-Levels, many people are stuck in that catch-22 scenario of not being able to achieve the job they want because they don’t have the experience, but they need a job to get that experience in the first place. That’s why Apprenticeships can be a great answer; you can train while you’re working in a team and actually do the job you wanted in the first place.
As another of our Apprentices Lucy Newton, puts it, “I would recommend this apprenticeship to others who would like a start in Administration but do not necessarily have all the skills to start off in a more permanent job. It gives you an understanding of what the job is, the necessary work skills behind it and you’ll get an NVQ qualification at the end of the year’s apprenticeship, to help you to take on a higher level administrative role.”
On an Apprenticeship you’ll also gain lots of new skills in a relatively short time. Lucy goes on to say, “In just the six months of starting my apprenticeship, I have gained numerous skills, working on the phones, my data entry skills are improving and the NVQ is helping me learn all the different aspects of my job such as time management and organisational skills. From hardly any office and administrative skills at the start, I feel I have gained a lot more knowledge already in just my first six months.”
You’ll need a C or above in both Maths and English GCSE and the desire to progress in a team environment. Good communication and time management skills are also essential. Prove yourself, and you’ll get the relevant NVQ level and take one of many career paths that are open to all permanent Enterprise employees, as you’ll be one of them!
After you apply for an Apprenticeship, there will be a telephone interview followed by a face to face meeting at our offices here in Aldershot. During this process you will get a better insight into the individual teams and see what a day in the life of an Administration Apprentice is really like.
We’ll give Lucy the last word: “The Apprenticeship meant I could learn on the job by studying an NVQ Level 2 or 3 in Business and Administration alongside a paying wage. I felt this would give me a good standing in following a career in Administration as by the end of the year, I will have both a year’s worth of office experience and an NVQ qualification to aid me.”
If you are interested in an apprenticeship and rewarding career with Enterprise, be sure to check out our opportunities now.
