#NAW2017 - Meet our new apprentice Caitlin

My name is Caitlin Seery, I’m 17 and currently on a year’s apprenticeship with SCAPE.

Accessing an apprenticeship

After completing my GCSEs, I started thinking about my options for what to do next. I knew that going to college wasn't for me, and I really wanted to get a job and get an insight into the world of work. I have always been interested in working in a business support role and learning more about how a company operates.

I signed up with the apprenticeship college Positive Outcomes, hoping to find an apprenticeship in the local area. Having already placed an apprentice with SCAPE in 2015, Positive Outcomes recommended them as a city centre employer that support and encourage learning and development and put me forward for an apprenticeship with them.

Getting the job

After only a few days, I was offered an interview for the role of Apprentice Office Trainee and although I was nervous before the interview, as soon as I arrived in the office everyone was friendly and welcoming and made me feel at ease. The job and the apprenticeship sounded really interesting, exciting and varied and after the interview I wanted to find out more about SCAPE and what they do.

When Positive Outcomes rang again and told me I had been successful and they confirmed my apprenticeship, I was so happy to have the opportunity to learn more about the company and get into the working lifestyle. I was proud of myself and very excited; I just wanted to start straight away.

My journey

I have been in my apprenticeship for 7 months now and have enjoyed every minute of it. As an Apprentice Office Trainee, I am responsible for providing day to day administration support for all teams across the business and office visitors. My main responsibilities include meeting and greeting visitors, operating the main switchboard and monitoring and managing emails to the company's general inbox.

My role also includes daily post duties, scanning, filing, photocopying and binding when required, plus ordering and managing the stationery supplies from our external supplier. I support my Line Manager, Rachel, with all sorts of additional tasks including the booking of accommodation and travel and the management of diary appointments.

Skills and training

As well as learning office and business administration support skills on the job, SCAPE are supporting me with the completion of an Intermediate apprenticeship in Business & Admin Level 2 and also a Functional Skills IT Level 2 qualification. For these, my training adviser sets me questions which I have to answer within a certain time; these can range from questions on data protection to travelling and accommodation best practice. I can complete the work during my time in the office, which gives me the opportunity to ask questions and for my colleagues to give me support if needed. These will give me a good basic knowledge of business administration and IT, which I hope will help me in the future.

Coming straight from school and into a busy, working environment was a very big change and a big step for me, but I know for sure taking an apprenticeship with SCAPE was the best decision for me. I'm really glad I took an apprenticeship instead of going to college and would recommend this to anybody who isn't sure what they want to do after school.

I have learnt so much since working here, it has given me a real insight into a business support role and my skill set has broadened. I hope to continue learning and improving as each day goes on.