Over the last few years, apprenticeships have played an important part in recruitment and staff development at the Skills and Education Group.

Several of our staff members have completed apprenticeships and progressed into successful permanent roles within the Group.

So, for National Apprenticeship Week 2023, we spoke to a few members of our team to find out how apprenticeships have supported their progression and benefited their careers.

Areeba Kainat, Trainee Customer Support Officer and Multicultural Apprenticeship Awards winner 2022

“I joined the Skills and Education Group in March 2021. I completed the Level 2 Customer Support Practitioner Apprenticeship, gaining a distinction after completing the course and my end-point assessment in June 2022. I am now looking to start the Level 3 Business Administration Apprenticeship next month.

“I joined the company after completing my GCSEs and, although the change from sixth form to work life was quite daunting for me, the friendly nature of my colleagues put me at ease. This made me enjoy my role and made me keen to grow and develop. The support from my colleagues and manager was second to none, helping me evolve everyday as a person, which has been a major factor in me progressing following my apprenticeship, being promoted to Trainee Customer Support Officer, and winning the Intermediate Apprentice of the Year Award at the Multicultural Apprenticeship Awards 2022.”

Ben Saxton, Senior Applications Developer

“I started working with the organisation in September 2012 as a 16-year-old apprentice and I have completed two apprenticeships since starting with the organisation. My first apprenticeship was the Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship for IT and Telecoms Professionals, which took just over a year to complete. I then completed my Level 4 IT Systems and Networking Higher Apprenticeship which took two years to complete.

“The apprenticeship route was perfect for me. I struggled with classroom-based learning, so being able to learn on the job worked really well. Apprenticeships allowed me to learn whilst working and gave me the opportunity to gain vital experience in the IT sector.

“I have been working for the Skills and Education Group for over 10 years now and I feel that my apprenticeships have certainly helped me to progress to become a Senior Applications Developer.”

Chris Mason, Technical Support Officer

“I joined the Group in November 2019 and completed my Level 3 IT Solutions Technician Apprenticeship in November 2021.

“I found it very beneficial to be able to learn in the classroom and work at the same time. Being able to put theory into practice made me understand the concepts of IT that I was learning about much more quickly than I would have if I was solely classroom based. I enjoyed working on the projects throughout the apprenticeship and it was rewarding to overcome the challenges I faced in my project apprenticeship work.

“After completing my apprenticeship, I was promoted to an Officer position; the apprenticeship gave me the technical knowledge required to be successful in this role. I am now close to enrolling on a Level 4 apprenticeship that will develop my career even further.”

Tom Smart, Senior Compliance and Regulation Officer

“I joined the Skills and Education Group in September 2019 as a Compliance and Regulation Assistant. I completed the Level 4 Regulatory Compliance Officer Apprenticeship between October 2019 and August 2021, achieving the highest distinction grade.

“The apprenticeship allowed me to gain a broader understanding of the role of regulation and why it is a vitally important tool in various industries. Through my coursework and assignments, I was able to apply this knowledge to scenarios within my specific role and the wider education and skills sector.

“It was great to ‘earn as I learned’, whilst also developing transferrable skills such as report writing and undertaking projects for my assignments. All in all, it provided me with a great platform to start my career in compliance, and the end-point assessment was an experience that will only serve me well moving forward when faced with other high-pressure situations.

“During my apprenticeship, I moved into the role of Compliance and Regulation Officer, and as of last month I have been promoted to Senior Compliance and Regulation Officer following an interview process. I’m now looking forward to progressing further at the Skills and Education Group, helped by the knowledge and skills gained in my apprenticeship.”

Interested in developing your staff through apprentices?

Here at the Skills and Education Group, we are passionate about apprenticeships and the futures of your apprentices. Our awarding organisations, Skills and Education Group Awards and BIIAB, work with industry to provide high-quality end-point assessment solutions. We currently offer end-point assessments for over 30 apprenticeship standards, with new developments in the pipeline too. We also offer a wide range of qualifications, many of which can be delivered as part of apprenticeships.

National Apprenticeship Week 2023 takes place from 6-12 February. Keep an eye on our Twitter and LinkedIn channels as we celebrate the week.