I never imagined that at 51 I’d be about to begin my very own apprenticeship. But I am, and it’s really exciting. Learning isn’t temporary and that old phrase, ‘you learn something new every day’, really is true. Apprenticeships embrace that slogan by being a practical option for a person of any age who wants to keep on learning.
I’m one of these people. More than a decade into my career in supporting people to learn and develop I’m about to embark on my very own journey as an apprentice. I spend my working week supporting others on their own apprenticeships and I’m about to see the personal and professional benefits for myself.
The great thing about my role as a Talent Specialist is learning more about peoples interests and how we can help them to succeed in that interest. Often, this means undertaking an apprenticeship while at work. It’s a common myth that apprenticeships are only an entry-level route to work, but we’re showing people that they’re actually hugely beneficial to employees (and employers) seeking mid-level career development too.
When we grow our people, we grow our business as well. We’ve currently got 62 apprentices across our organisation, from development and manual skills to business support and more.
It’s all about choice
There are 750 different apprenticeships for people to choose from. While not all of these are relevant to the work we do, it’s a great example of just how many options there are for people wanting to learn on the job.
It’s this choice that make apprenticeships a great option for anyone seeking career development. They provide new opportunities for people to learn more about a different area, and those skills are often transferrable. This means it boosts the CV and provides a broader understanding of the chosen role, plus a good mix of practical and theoretical learning.
It’s common for colleagues to embark on apprenticeships a few years into their role as it aids them in their professional development. It can also support them in transitioning to another business area with confidence. This is really popular at Abri, where 64% of apprenticeships across the business are among existing colleagues who are looking to attain new qualifications.
Another positive about apprenticeships, and reason why we think they’re such a good option for people, is the cost. And by cost, we mean free. Apprentices can learn for free, on the job, while earning a salary. This mitigates any financial concerns that can occur with different types of learning. Additionally, mid-career apprentices can study while retaining their current salary.
Learning results in new ideas
Apprenticeships have positive ripple effects. They’re great for the learner, because they develop professionally, gain new skills and expand their knowledge. And they’re great for the employer, because they see the impact of those new skills on the wider business.
We’re passionate about finding new ways of working and are always keen to evolve and adapt as a business. By investing in our colleagues we’re supporting the creation of future leaders and providing a platform for new ideas to thrive.
For everyone
Finally, we promote apprenticeships because they’re inclusive by nature. There are no age restrictions or financial barriers, people just need to come along with a willingness to learn. And that’s where we come in: we’re here to support people on their learning journey and help colleagues to find an apprenticeship that’s right for them.
More than a decade into my career in learning and development, now feels like a good as time as any to learn something new. If I can do it, so can anyone.
Talent Specialist at Abri
