Kew Estates First Apprentice

As part of apprentice week, I have shared a fantastic blog from Sandra Napoleone who joined Kew as an apprentice in the Estates team over two years ago, since the scheme finished she has secured a permanent post in Estates and goes from strength to strength within the team.

We currently have another two business apprentices within the team and plan to recruit three trade staff apprentices this year and expand the Estates skills network of training for the future.

Two years ago the Estates and Facilities department launched its first business administration apprenticeship programme and I want to use this blog to tell you all about my experience.

When I joined Kew in 2019, I had just graduated in architectural engineering, having submitted my dissertation on the study of an innovative composite material: a cement mortar with the aggregate – sand – being completely replaced by natural fibres – straw.

This ‘new’ way of reusing materials that would otherwise be wasted was a topic I was thrilled by; fundamentally because it is eco-sustainable in the context of the construction of environmentally friendly buildings and for its final use, as it is both lighter than traditional mortars and has a lower density, combining the strength of cement and the thermal insulation properties of straw.

Moving towards sustainability in Estates

I was so eager to be able to see with my own eyes this innovation put into practice, as part of the building process, something which I had studied over the years but which I had never been able to witness first-hand. Thanks to this apprenticeship I was able to participate in a real transition towards sustainability within my department. In fact, for several years Estates & Facilities teams, led by our director Pete Alesbury, has been developing an ambitious implementation project utilising integrated databases to collect information on all activities relevant to the life cycle of the buildings we maintain, focusing also on their environmental impact, a necessary step which will allow us to implement the changes that our manifesto directs us toward, minimising biodiversity loss and mitigating the impact of climate change.

My apprenticeship

From day one, I was introduced to an increasing range of activities, switching during the day from administrative tasks to a helpdesk management approach.

While working with the Admin Team, I was supported in setting out business correspondence with internal stakeholders and suppliers. I worked hard to master business etiquette in my correspondence, as well as adhering to policy standards with regard to the handling of sensitive data and also complying with the health and safety regulatory?frameworks set up as a guideline for best practice. I personally also feel that I benefited hugely from the invaluable training I received in best practice through the programme of workshops on diversity and inclusion.

The helpdesk manager Orysya never hesitated in sharing her great knowledge of working on our CAFM (computer-aided facilities management) system which I use to process jobs estate related issues, and I have also learned to triage the jobs, assign priorities, and the process for escalating emergencies.

I have improved my communication skills immensely both over the telephone, and face to face with the end-users. The operational team, together with our contractors, were always available to help when I was in difficulty and allowed me to face the daily challenges from another perspective, enabling me to work at pace and with confidence.

I am proud to say that this apprenticeship has been a process of change for me too!

The academic module

This programme also incorporated a college based, academic module at Kingston College, an experience which was both intensive and informative. I came back to college intending to understand how business administration works in the UK and learning its best practices.

Guided but free to develop

I will always be deeply indebted to Kew because interacting within its corporate environment has been the best choice I could have made for myself in the last four years. My managers gave me the freedom to experiment within the most salient general aspects of the construction business.?I have been guided and advised along this path, but I was also free to develop my own way to grow professionally. This has been such an important lesson for me.

Two years have now passed by, and I have discovered how inspiring it is to be involved in different business processes to provide excellent service to our internal and external customers… and I must say, the time has simply flown by!

I can certainly confirm that hands-on experimentation is the ideal tool to realise your dream. This imaginative and creative process was essential in understanding the opportunities this field could offer in the future, by integrating the principles of business administration and engineering sciences.

Support through the pandemic

There have also been tough times along the way such as during the outbreak of the pandemic. I felt so much uncertainty about myself and my future, but I never felt alone. Some exceptional work was done by the senior management, coping with the urgent needs of the business, and making sure that we all looked after each other, engaging with staff through regular catch ups and the corporate wellness programme.

I joined the energetic Kew Yoga group on the advice of my mentor Lou. They were invaluable during that time and meeting my colleagues from different departments every week made me feel connected.

I would like also to thank Deborah George, whose always discreet, yet reassuring presence, has been a model for me. Her steadfastness along with her passion encouraged me to utilise my transferable skills and bolstered my belief in my own capabilities.

The value of the apprenticeship

In conclusion, I believe that the Business Administration apprenticeship programme is successful.

An apprenticeship could be an excellent way to gain access to a sector you aspire to work in, and if you?work hard to support the organisation, you could find yourself becoming a valued member of the team.

And of course, for me, it is absolutely priceless and truly stimulating that the work site happens to be only two steps from the glories of the natural world.

Working for an organisation that truly understands that life on Earth is the greatest scientific challenge of our age, has helped me to strive to do my very best every day, engendering hope for the future.

New horizons are opening up for the enormous potential of plants, so ultimately, nature is becoming?the?place not only for research but also for business