A day in the life of a New Talent Apprentice …

My name is Kayla and I’m an Advanced Business Administration Apprentice working in Child Service — School Improvements. I chose an apprenticeship route to earn an Administration qualification, whilst also gaining experience and skills working in a professional role.

Typically, my workday starts at 8 am. I check my emails, make a list of tasks and complete any outstanding work from the day before. I’m a parent, so having the flexibility to start earlier has been very helpful.

Each week, between 9–10 am, I have a meeting with the Business Support team. During these meetings, I’ll find out what other members of the team are working on during the week, and which jobs I’ll be assisting with. Throughout the rest of the week, I have a catch-up with my Line Manager.

No-two-days are the same and my work is varied. For example, today I updated the brochure for a conference that we are hosting, and I’m also compiling a report for the Head of Achievement and Learning, which I do monthly. I’ve also been given the opportunity to assist different departments within my team, which has allowed me to gain a better understanding of School Improvement as a whole.

I also have my routine, day-to-day tasks. I support the Business Support team in checking our mailbox throughout the day, updating spreadsheets, and assisting with bookings for the training courses we offer.

Taking my lunch break later in the day, I do the school run and then return to work for an hour or two, depending on my start time.

Before I started, I didn’t realise how much I’d learn in such a short amount of time. It’s been a great opportunity to meet new people and develop professionally. Although I am fairly new, I have built on my IT skills. My communication skills have also improved, as well as my confidence.

I would say, if you want to gain experience whilst you’re trying to figure out your career path, an apprenticeship could be for you!

Keep up-to-date with apprenticeships and early career opportunities at Buckinghamshire Council: https://jobs.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/