#NAW23: An Interview with...
For National Apprenticeship Week, we have spent some time talking to colleagues across the Wilmington group who have personally undertaken an apprenticeship.
Today, we share the interview with Vanessa Gorham, Head of ISO Compliance for Wilmington plc.
Grab a coffee and enjoy!
Q: Hi Vanessa! Firstly, please can you tell us what you position is within Wilmington and your background with the business:
A: I am Head of ISO Compliance at Wilmington plc – working across Wilmington’s Shared Services team – and I’ve been in role for around 10 years.
Q: Tell me about the apprenticeship programme and why you decided to sign-up
A: I am studying a business management degree. I didn’t do a degree or go to college when I was younger; I had a job before my GCSE grades came through as an office junior and over the years have worked my way up. I am quite academic and did well at school, but always had a little nag that I could have gone to university. Of course I’ve done training through the years, always engaging in all training that is on offer to me.?When the opportunity to do the apprenticeship came up during the pandemic, I thought “If I don’t do it now, I never will!”, so I took the plunge and I’m now in the third year or my three-year Degree, which finishes in October.
领英推荐
Q: How have you balanced the apprenticeship with your working and home-life commitments?
A: The cohort that I am in is for a three year, full time degree, so it is intensive.?I believe now the course is over four or five years.?It certainly takes time management and you need to work out a plan that suits you.?For me, I’ve chosen to take time at weekends, as well as the time that is given to you during the working week to study.?Some people will do a couple of hours every day, however I prefer to batch it up as this works better for me.
Q: Have you attended university as part of your apprenticeship?
A: All of my course has been conducted remotely, as I started during the pandemic.?This is now being offered for new starters, who benefit from a dedicated tutor. Of course, every apprenticeship and university will be different.?For me, I have two modules to complete a quarter, and for each four classes and 2 masterclasses, I receive time with a tutor, which is when you get to really ask questions and so it’s so important to factor these classes into your working schedule.?You certainly need to organise a plan, so you can dedicate the time you need alongside your working and home commitments.
Q: What are the benefits to you?
A: The apprenticeship – and achieving a business degree in the later stage of my working life – will give me immense personal satisfaction. It will prove to me that I am able to achieve this, and gives me additional skills that I am able to put into action in my current role.?
Q: What advice would you give to someone considering an apprenticeship?
A: For those already on the career ladder, I would recommend apprenticeships to enhance your learning and give you new skills that you can apply to your job today.?I would recommend you talk to your manager, to make sure that time is available for you to do this as you will need to put time aside to make this happen. You will therefore need their support and so having an open conversation, with confirmation in writing of what time you can dedicate to learning, is probably a good idea.
For those just starting out, or you’re perhaps in your 20s and didn’t go to university, I would so ‘go for it!’. It really will open up so many doors for you, expose you to many different aspects of business, and give you more career choices. You also earn while you learn, which is a big benefit.
##