To mark National Careers Week, John Joe Tams, Accreditation Apprentice at the North East based educational charity NCFE, reflects on his experiences as an apprentice at one of the UK's leading organisations in technical and vocational learning.
I’m incredibly proud to be an apprentice. It’s a pathway that’s too often looked down upon as a second class option, but it’s provided me with so many opportunities that I simply wouldn’t have had at university.
My apprenticeship at NCFE has opened the door to so many opportunities, pushed me out of my comfort zone, and helped me develop within the working environment, but it wasn’t a straight forward journey to this point.
I stayed on at school to complete Sixth Form and left with predicted grades as we went into the first lockdown. I knew I wanted to work and earn my own money, but also wanted to continue with my education, which is why I decided an apprenticeship was the best route.
When it comes to careers advice, in schools there’s definitely a bias towards universities. For me, apprenticeships were only talked about at a very high level, as I think the teachers themselves aren’t familiar about what one actually involves.
It was extremely hard to find an apprenticeship as businesses were furloughing workers or letting people go as a result of cost savings. I was successful at some interviews, but not offered a job, as organisations realised that they couldn’t employ any more staff. Fortunately, I found NCFE.
National Apprenticeship Week
February marked National Apprenticeship Week – a celebration of this training pathway and those who make it a fantastic option for people of all ages. For me, it was incredibly busy and filled with opportunities and new experiences – exactly what a good apprenticeship should deliver.
On the Wednesday, I attended an event hosted by the Association of Apprentices at Guildhall in London. It was my first time travelling long distance for work and a really exciting experience – as well as being great for my personal development.
Accompanied by Philip Le Feuvre, NCFE’s Chief Strategy Officer, we spent the day networking and speaking to a host of other apprentices and executives. It was a fantastic chance to compare experiences and discover how people from different parts of the country work.
It was also a great opportunity to spend time with a member of NCFE’s executive team and share what we were both working on, as well as how I’m finding certain aspects of my apprenticeship.
Interviewing an MP
On Thursday, I co-hosted an FE News live show that saw apprentices taking the lead – both in front of and behind the camera. The focus was all about looking forwards and how we can improve things for both employers and the apprentices of the future.
As part of the show, I interviewed Toby Perkins MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Skills and Further Education. We discussed a range of themes, including changing perceptions of apprenticeships, the cost of living crisis, and how we can improve careers advice in schools.
During the show I interviewed two current apprentices – Sofia Bunce, Marketing Apprentice and Digital Content Executive at Home Group, and Umayr Tanveer, multi-award winning software engineer at BT – about their experiences and advice for anyone considering an apprenticeship.
I also spoke to David Hughes, CEO at the Association of Colleges, and Sue Pittock, CEO of Remit Training, about what they’d like to see in the future. The opportunity was amazing. It’s great to expand my profile as an apprenticeships advocate, as well as gain a lot of confidence in the process.
CEO shadowing
The week ended with a recorded conversation with NCFE’s Chief Executive, David Gallagher, as we caught up with each other one year after we completed work shadowing and reverse mentoring. It was a fantastic chance to discuss how the opportunity benefitted us both.
This conversation last year really raised my personal profile and put me on the path to where I am today. That’s what a good apprenticeship must do – provide the tools and experience to help people grow in their careers.
I’m lucky that I found NCFE, but so many others aren’t as fortunate or don’t even realise apprenticeships are an option in the first place. Even if they do find something they love, there’s now the risk of them having to drop out because of financial pressures.
Hopefully my experiences show that apprenticeships are a fantastic pathway. Although mine is nearly at an end, I’ll always be a passionate advocate for them and all they can provide.