Here at Bloq we were delighted to take on an Apprentice last year to help out in our busy office. Dan joined us October 2016 and has already become a real asset. We were looking to increase our team with some help that could offer flexibility and grow with the company and we were also keen to be able to share our experience and learning to the benefit of someone else.
Part of our commitment to Dan is to give him a range of experiences across the business so he can broaden his skills but also identify the areas that appeal to him with regard to shaping his future career. With this in mind I set him a task to put together some words for a blog entitled ‘A day in the life of an Apprentice’. The task got him to think about what he does and how to write a piece for a website. Here’s what he wrote:-
“Just like with any other working environment; the office can be busy. The work is often at a fast pace and always a learning experience. There is never an issue or job that is exactly the same. This fast pace working environment causes you to quickly learn how to adapt from structured and teacher/mentor led education to real life independent learning. As an apprentice, I take pride in having the responsibility to constantly improve myself in order to not just learn more but complete jobs and most importantly to resolve people’s issues. Despite having to adapt to a new working environment, I am supported by the other members of the team. There are also times where I can work at a slower pace. This allows me to take on new tasks which allow me to learn new things and in turn grow more as an asset to the business. When I have time and I see my colleagues are busy I like to ask about what they are doing and why. It all helps me to learn and I value the time they give me.”
I was impressed with some of his business language being used here and am glad to be able to share how it feels for him to have gone from a background of school to a busy office. He won’t mind me admitting that on Day 1 he didn’t know where to put a stamp on an envelope and now he is competently sat with me setting up creditor accounts and entering supplier invoices.
I’d also like to mention how proud we were of him today when he stood up at Kingswood School and spoke in front of 400 senior school children on his life as a Young Carer supporting his family by caring for his Mum and Brother. Well done, Dan! You have come a long way and we’re genuinely pleased to have you on board.