National Apprenticeship Week is upon us and it’s not something we usually make a fuss about as our team of apprentices fit so seamlessly into our team you’d never know they were also completing a huge qualification!
However, this year we thought we’d ask our 5 apprentices to give us an insight into why they chose the apprenticeship route in the first place, how they found the process and how their qualifications set them up for the future. Apprenticeships are becoming more and more popular and it’s easy to see why as the choice of courses and methods of delivery have evolved so much!
Currently, within the Purple team, we have Scarlett completing a Chartered Management apprenticeship through Teesside University, George completing a Web Development Level 3 course and Jess working towards her Digital Marketer Level 3 qualification. They are all very different courses delivered in different ways from University lectures to online classrooms.
James and Kieran have been with us for a few years now but both joined us as apprentices working towards becoming qualified web developers and have done nothing but build upon their knowledge since completing their courses to allow them to mentor new team members and create increasingly advanced websites for our clients.
Down below each of them gives us an insight into what their course involves and what they plan to do or are already doing after completion!
Scarlett
I am currently working towards a BA (Hons) Management Practice degree through Teesside University, as part of the Chartered Management Degree Apprenticeship scheme they offer. Choosing to study an apprenticeship was a no-brainer for me as I wanted to learn as well as work. I wanted to have the balance of the classroom and theoretical learning alongside the practical side of applying what I learn to my day to day working practices. Right now, I am halfway through my first year of the three-year course. Already I feel like it has made a huge difference to my approach to the way I work. It’s also really exciting to be back in the learning environment again and taking on a new challenge! My main goal is to finish my three-year course with a first and then to be able to apply everything I have learnt throughout to make me into a well-rounded manager to help support the ambitions of Purple as a whole.
James
Initially, I had applied to go to university but had doubts over the course I had picked. I was still really unsure what I wanted to do and the opportunity arose to work at purple. I hadn't heard of them before or even done much development work, but I was instantly attracted to the idea of it after looking at the website and seeing what they did. The course I did was a level 3 software development course (It was that long ago I can barely remember the full name!) After my apprenticeship, I was offered a full-time position at Purple which was fantastic. Web technologies are always changing, so the learning hasn't stopped, but that's what is great about it and why I enjoy my role so much. I plan to keep on learning, progressing further within my role and working on lots more exciting projects.
Kieran
I chose the Apprenticeship route after going to college for two months and finding it was not what I wanted. Instead, I wanted to be climbing the career ladder and I liked the idea of learning, gaining experience and earning an income all at the same time! I was studying a Level 3 Software and Website Development Course which I managed to pass with Distinction and have really enjoyed being able to put what I learnt to good use.
My Apprenticeship has taken me a long way in my career and also in life, before my apprenticeship I was extremely shy however my apprenticeship pushed me out of my comfort zone and allowed me to become an adult and mature a lot quicker. In the future, I plan to stay at Purple and continue to develop my skills and knowledge of website development and I hope to maybe do a university course in the next few years.
Jess
I started my apprenticeship with Purple back in October and am studying towards a Level 3 in Digital Marketing. I decided to do an apprenticeship following university due to the application of learning in the workplace. Before leaving university, I’d never really considered an apprenticeship but I’m so glad I did. I feel like my university course was so broad and I learnt so much that got me to where I am now, but the apprenticeship is continually helping me to find my niche. I can keep learning and growing my knowledge while earning money and establishing myself in the industry. My apprenticeship has allowed me to learn on the job, work in the industry and apply new skills all while finding my own route. I’ve just hit the quarter-way mark in my apprenticeship and can’t wait for the next 9 months of learning, I feel like I’m just getting started.
George
Having tried a year of University studying Sports Journalism, I realised quickly that it wasn’t for me despite the content being interesting and lecturers really helpful. University isn’t cheap and even though it was going to be an investment in myself, I felt that there are other potential options that would suit me better. My first thought was an Apprenticeship. I decided I wanted to go into something media or tech-related and began hunting for opportunities within my local area.
Apprenticeships are a great way to learn and earn at the same time, which is something extremely unique and rewarding. I began applying for roles and had few near misses along the way. The Apprenticeship business is extremely competitive, and I am lucky to be able to say that I have been able to land myself one.
The Apprenticeship that I am currently studying was a great opportunity for me to get my foot in the door with a fantastic company. I have zero regrets at all and was 100% the right choice for me.
I am currently studying a level 3 Qualification in Software Development Technician QA Apprenticeships in Leeds. So far I have spent a total of 4 weeks learning C# fundamentals and C# Intermediate programming language. I aim to continue to work here at Purple, whilst continuing to develop my skills within the industry. Also, I would not rule out possibly studying Software Development Technician Level 4, to complement my Level 3 Qualification in the future.
We are incredibly lucky to have such a wonderful team here at Purple and apprenticeships have allowed us to provide some great opportunities for Purple as a business, but most importantly, for our team who join us and are able to learn so many skills to set them up for their career. Follow us on social media to keep an eye on what the whole team is up to and our apprentices share more of their learning experiences!