MAKING the move into a new career might seem daunting, especially if it’s your first job, but there’s a great way to get yourself trained and ready for your new job – an apprenticeship.
Forget the idea of apprenticeships being junior team members doing the jobs that others duck out of.
Fresh start … Meg Ginsberg joined South West Water in 2022
Today’s apprenticeships are an integral part of the workplace and often make an impactful contribution to the organisation from the get-go.
They can be done at any age or level, whether just starting out, upskilling or changing career.
Apprentices receive a salary, for which they spend time developing skills on the job and expanding their knowledge in the classroom.
If you’re an employer, the benefits are huge. You get to develop that potential while shaping your workforce for the roles you need. Win-win.
In one survey, 86 per cent of employers said apprenticeships helped them develop skills relevant to their organisation, while 74 per cent said they helped them improve the quality of their product or service.
Meg Ginsberg is someone who took the apprenticeship route and couldn’t be happier.
She joined South West Water in September 2022 as a level 4 project management apprentice (roughly equivalent to the first year of university).
Within 14 months she was promoted to assistant project manager, allowing her to have a higher income while continuing with studies.
Meg transitioned to an apprenticeship when she was unable to continue with her nursing degree at Exeter University.
Meg, 22, mum to daughter Olive, three, says the change of direction has been one of the best decisions she’s made.
“I did my A levels during the first year of lockdown, then had my daughter, so I rolled my maternity leave and gap year into one.
“I started at uni, but following some operations on my feet, I had to withdraw for medical reasons.
“While I was recovering, I spent nine months answering 999 calls for the ambulance service as an emergency medical dispatcher, but I wanted a job that wasn’t shift work, with a bit more progression and stability.”
She started looking into apprenticeships. “They’re perfect because you do a ‘normal’ job while getting academic qualifications and industry experience.
“It wasn’t what I was planning or expecting, having been set on nursing for so long, but it has actually been the biggest blessing.”
Almost 70 per cent of occupations in England are now available as apprenticeships.
Fast work … within 14 months Meg was promoted to assistant project manager
Smashing it
As a South West Water apprentice, Meg works full time and attends college on Thursdays to study for an Association for Project Management qualification – the first of several qualifications she can work towards.
She smashed it in the shortest time possible – just over a year – and is working towards her next qualification.
“South West Water is very supportive,” she says, “and open to paying for me to do a maths A level which would allow me to meet the entry requirement for a five-year civil engineering degree apprenticeship.”
A degree apprenticeship lets you study for a full undergraduate or master’s degree while working. You can gain valuable industry experience while earning a salary – and you don’t need to pay for the degree itself as the participating employer pays for that.
Depending on the course level, degree apprenticeships take three to six years to complete.
“I’ll work and study,” says Meg. “Study can be done as a block or day release. If all goes to plan, I’ll be doing approximately two weeks every two months at Exeter University.
“I’ve worked hard and have been rewarded by being promoted early and moving into an assistant project management role at South West Water.
“As a single mum, moving up from an apprentice wage to a higher salary was a lifeline.”
The workplace mentoring has been invaluable, she says.
“For support, I have HR and the college, as well as my colleagues.”
With the onset of a connective tissue disorder six months after having her daughter, Meg also feels supported as a wheelchair user.
“I applied for access to work funding from the government. I received financial support, which funded a wheelchair that folds and would fit into any car. This means I can go on site visits, for instance.
“The employee relations department at South West Water assisted with the paperwork and helped me get the equipment I needed to do my job.”
Find an apprenticeship that suits you
Apprentices work and get paid at the same time as studying for a qualification.
Who are they for?
Pretty much everyone!
You can start an apprenticeship if you’re:
16 or over – there’s no upper age limit. In fact, many apprentices are mature learners who have made the decision to embark on a career change. And having previous qualifications, like a degree, is fine too.
Find out more and search for an apprenticeship online. Visit gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship
Bright future
Meg loves working across a range of projects in and out of the office.
“It’s not just sitting at a desk. I manage 15 projects at the moment, from the bottom of Cornwall to the top of Devon.
“I visit sites, monitoring their progress and working with our contractors.
“Day to day, there’s a financial side, where I apply for budgets and write papers.
“And then you’re managing a multidisciplinary team, including civil engineers and surveyors.
“As a project manager, you could be compared to the conductor of an orchestra.
“You must tell teams when to start and finish, while managing the balance between each of them, ensuring together that the final composition ends at the right time, having hit every note.”
Apprenticeships are a great training route for anyone looking to get real-world skills and knowledge in their chosen field.
Meg is a vocal advocate in her area, where she visits schools and sixth forms as a South West Apprenticeships Ambassador.
“When I talk to the students, I’m very transparent about the pros and the opportunities that can arise from them.
“I started on £17,000-£18,000 as an apprentice then progressed to earn around £32,000 since moving into this role.”
“As a 22-year-old, having worked a year in the business, that is just amazing. I feel very privileged and lucky to have found a career that I genuinely love.
“But as importantly, I’m also building connections within the industry, which brings great career opportunities.
“It’s about breaking stereotypes. I thought: utilities, that’s not very glamorous, is it? But there’s so much more to it.
“My journey from sixth form to assistant project manager at South West Water has been filled with challenges and triumphs.
“Despite facing personal obstacles, I’ve remained determined to pursue a career that aligns with my academic aspirations and individual circumstances.
“Through my apprenticeship I’ve gained valuable qualifications and industry connections but I’ve also found a platform to advocate for young women and promote equality in the workplace.
“I want to inspire more women to enter the fields of project management and engineering.
“With each opportunity I feel more confident and capable – and ready to embrace the changes and advancements in the industry.”
“Apprenticeships open all kinds of doors.”
Employers: how to find YOUR perfect apprentice
Apprenticeships help bring valuable skills into your business.
You can employ apprentices at all levels, from school leavers to university graduates.
Hire someone new or use the apprenticeship to develop an existing employee. There’s even government funding to help you pay for delivering the apprenticeships.
Adapt their training according to the needs of your business.
Are you an employer who would like to know more about how to recruit an apprentice? Visit apprenticeships.gov.uk/employers/how-do-they-work-for-employers
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