Personal Assistant and Management apprentice Review

I enjoy my role as no day is the same. I am given extra responsibilities as my manager is deeply involved in my development. I have a range of tasks including diary management, coordinating meetings, preparing documents and reports, supporting operational projects, and maintaining action logs to track progress and deadlines. I also complete off-the-job training to support my apprenticeship, which can include shadowing colleagues in different roles, attending training sessions, and developing skills relevant to management and business administration. In addition, I attend university recall days, usually two days each month, which support the academic side of my apprenticeship and allow me to apply what I learn to my role.

Overall, I think the programme is fairly well-structured, especially the combination of on-the-job learning and university recall days. The university sessions are organised and provide clear guidance on completing assignments and developing skills.

I receive excellent support from my manager, who is actively involved in my development, provides guidance, and gives me opportunities to take on extra responsibilities that help me learn on the job. They check in regularly and offer constructive feedback, which I really value. However, the apprenticeship team’s support has been very poor. Since becoming an apprentice, I have had no communication from them unless I chase it myself. For example, I had to contact them to confirm that I was definitely starting university on 20th January, and no guidance or advice was offered beyond the general information sessions. Overall, while my manager provides great support, the wider apprenticeship team could be far more proactive, providing check-ins and ongoing guidance for apprentices.

The university provides solid support through recall days and academic resources, helping me develop my knowledge and skills relevant to my role.

It’s still a bit early days, as I am only three months into the programme, but I can already see how the qualification is helping me develop practical and academic skills, such as presenting, academic writing, and organisation. I expect that as I progress further, it will continue to support my performance and allow me to apply what I learn more directly to my role.

Yes

Yes, I would. It’s a great opportunity for anyone already working in the Trust to develop their skills and gain qualifications, such as a degree, while continuing to work and get paid. The combination of practical experience and academic learning makes it a valuable programme for career development.