16 January 2025

Happy New Year, everyone! 
Wow, so much happened last year, including starting my apprenticeship! Let’s take this time to reflect on everything we achieved in 2024 and look ahead to 2025. 

 

In 2024, I passed my A Levels and started working at Skills and Education Group. This created so many opportunities for me, including becoming an Apprentice Ambassador, joining the Association of Apprentices, and having the chance to come out as non-binary at work.

 

 

Now that 2025 is here, I’m getting back into the swing of things, and it feels great to have a routine again. The year has started brilliantly, with me passing my six-month probation! Wow, that flew by quickly! I’m so pleased with my position at Skills and Education Group and the progress I’ve made in my role. I love everything this company does, and I’m proud to be in a job that gives people the opportunity to learn and develop. 

 

 

In 2025, I aim to attend more East Midlands National Apprentice Ambassador Network events to inspire young individuals and teach others more about apprenticeships. I want to share my story and let others know how amazing apprenticeships can be. I’m off to a good start, having signed up for some school apprenticeship awareness events that I’m really looking forward to. I can’t wait to help change lives with the East Midlands National Apprenticeship Ambassador Network. 

 

 

Another goal this year is to continue developing my LinkedIn profile and enhancing my personal brand. If you’re interested in seeing my LinkedIn profile, click here.

This year, I will also continue to grow in my role and learn even more skills. I can’t wait for what’s to come! 

 

At college, I’m keeping up with my assignments and staying on track with my OTJ hours. I had a recent progress meeting with my manager and tutor which went very well. We discussed the skills I will be learning as part of my portfolio and what I can apply to my workplace. 

 

 

At work, I’m developing my analytical skills—an area I’ve struggled with previously—and I’m excited to learn more. I’m also working on a “Meet the Apprentice” campaign for our Skills and Education Group social media channels to introduce the world to our apprentices, share their stories and spread the word about apprenticeships. 

 

 

This month, I also had some fantastic CPD (continued professional development) training with Christopher Blackburn, a STEM and Apprentice Ambassador who works for Impellam Group. Christopher hosted a session on Utilising LinkedIn – Harnessing AI for Impact. Thanks to this session, I now have more tips for developing my personal brand and a better understanding of how to grow and sustain a strong LinkedIn network. His presentation was clear and insightful, and I learned so much. This was really useful for broadening my network, as well as for helping me represent the company better using my LinkedIn. 

 

 

Another exciting highlight this month was being interviewed by Arch Communications about my apprenticeship journey for a case study aimed at inspiring young people. I’m looking forward to putting this together with them, as it will also allow me to develop my filming skills. I’m excited to get my story out there and help others. 

 

Finally, I had an inspiring opportunity this month. I interviewed our new CEO, Yultan Mellor. What an inspirational woman! I was anxious to begin with, but as soon as I walked into her office, I felt immediately at ease, and we flowed into the conversation. What I realised from that meeting is that she is a person just like the rest of us. No matter what position someone holds in a business, everyone is equal. We all come to work to play our part and assist the company in our own way. Hearing that Yultan also has a marketing background was incredibly inspiring, and listening to her views was fascinating. I feel truly inspired by her and look up to her. If you’d like to read the interview, I’ll be sharing it soon. 

 

 

Overall, I’ve had a brilliant start to the year. 2025 will be filled with positivity, and I look forward to continuing to develop my skills and make a difference. There’s so much I want to achieve this year. Here we go, 2025—bring it on, baby! 

Watch this space for Yultan’s Q and A!