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Apprenticeship Stories: Louise

Apprentice Louise shares her experience of doing an apprenticeship, what she's enjoyed the most about it and her advice to others.

Tell us a bit about your apprenticeship.

I'm completing the Operations or Departmental Manager Level 5 apprenticeship.

What made you want to do an apprenticeship?

I had been line managing staff for a number of years and was aware I hadn't had any training on this. I love learning and felt an apprenticeship would offer me training on the theory to help me manage in the role I have now and help with development into a leadership role in the future.

What advice would you give to someone considering an apprenticeship?

You do have to dedicate time and effort into it so it can't be taken lightly. By finding ways to practically implement the learning it begins to make much more sense than just being theoretical too.

What have you enjoyed most about your apprenticeship?

Finding practical ways to implement the changes I have learnt about which has made me aware of my own development.

How do you manage your work-life balance with completing an apprenticeship?

By being quite disciplined with myself about carving out the time in my diary for the apprenticeship. I managed to submit slightly early for one module and make a head start on my next which has given me more flexibility when I am busier with work.

What advice would you give to another manager considering an apprenticeship?

Be really sure you are interested in doing it, without being interested it will be quite hard to motivate yourself to commit the time required to complete the apprenticeship to the standard required.

Tell us how you managed the 20% off the job learning hours?

I block out time in my diary and my staff know that that is my ILM day. They can still contact me and I am not completely rigid with it but it helps set out expectations and habits.

How have you seen yourself grow/develop whilst undertaking the Apprenticeship?

I have become much more aware of my own behaviours and that of others and different ways to handle situations. For every module I try to make practical use of the theory I'm learning about which helps reinforce the learning.