Becoming an apprentice never occurred to me, and it still comes as a surprise when I consider I am now completing an apprenticeship as a career changer in my 40s.
The apprenticeship forms part of my role as a Trainee Community Support Worker for Home First. I wanted a meaningful way to transition from teaching to something where I could help adults and work in the community, so when I saw the role advertised, I went ahead and applied.
It was clear from the outset that I would be supported to gain relevant qualifications and the focus is on giving me the training and knowledge I need alongside practical experience to fulfil my role competently.
I have weekly study sessions and ‘off the job’ hours to focus on my study and training. We have taught sessions on Teams with some lovely tutors and all the resources we need to succeed both at our assignments and in our roles is provided for us in an easily accessible online platform as well as in-person training.
I have a designated tutor and a mentor to support me and provide a sound board for advice and encouragement, both of whom are super approachable.
My manager is also incredibly supportive and ensures I have the time I need to complete my training to the best of my abilities.
For me, one of the advantages of completing the apprenticeship with the Leicestershire County Council is that there are lots of roles I can progress to in time, and I find the county council as an organisation to have a positive attitude to lifelong learning, personal development, and career progression.
There is a genuine wish to see people thrive, succeed and progress, whatever that means to them. I feel like I’ve landed on my feet and would recommend a Leicestershire County Council apprenticeship to anyone.
You can find out more about apprenticeships on our jobs and apprenticeships site.