Apprenticeship journeys at Girlguiding Anglia

Hi there! My name’s Katie and I’m the new apprentice for Girlguiding Anglia.

I joined as a marketing and communications apprentice in April 2023, and I can’t believe that I have already been working here for over 3 months. It has been a great experience so far and I love the fact that I am getting a Level 3 qualification at the same time as gaining experience working within marketing. The team at Girlguiding Anglia are amazing and I love working with them all.

So, why did I choose an apprenticeship?

I chose to apply for an apprenticeship because I wanted to gain additional qualifications whilst also working at the same time. I was home educated during covid, and my GCSE exams were cancelled two years in a row meaning that I had to wait until 2021 to sit my exams as I didn’t get predicted grades. This meant that I didn’t have the opportunity to do A Levels or any further education at the time. Whilst being at home, I was also training for my favourite thing, climbing! In 2022, I was selected for the GB Junior climbing team, and I travelled to lots of competitions around the world competing for Great Britain. My highlight was making the semi-finals of the Youth World Climbing Championships. It was an incredible experience and one I’ll never forget!

This year, I decided that I wanted to gain additional qualifications so I thought that an apprenticeship would be a great option for me as there are so many incredible benefits.

I’m finding my apprenticeship great because I’m gaining valuable experience and getting lots of guidance and support from my manager, Letty, whilst achieving an A Level equivalent qualification. I’m getting to do a variety of tasks meaning every day is unique and filled with different opportunities. It’s amazing that I can achieve this apprenticeship by working 30 hours per week and working at home one day a week. Another benefit is that I have a tutor who comes into the office to help me with the learning side of the course.

I’m looking forward to completing my apprenticeship in July or August 2024 and seeing what opportunities arise for the next steps in my marketing career.

I also got the opportunity to speak to Sophie over at the Girlguiding Anglia region shop to see how she was getting on with her retail assistant apprenticeship. This is what she had to say:

‘My journey with Girlguiding Anglia started in the summer of 2021 when I joined the retail team through the government’s Kickstart scheme, set up to help young people find work post-pandemic (although I could argue it started as a Rainbow!).

It was an enjoyable placement and the team made me feel welcome so when the opportunity of an apprenticeship came up, I was keen. I quickly became used to the environment but learning new skills and aspects of the role more in-depth has certainly kept me busy. A lot more goes into being a retail assistant and running a Girlguiding unit than I realised!

Through this apprenticeship I’ve felt supported by my mentor/manager and tutor to learn at my own pace in a way that works best for me. I’ve gained valuable experience but have also had time to grow in my abilities and confidence. It’s nice to have a routine again.

Now that I’m nearing the end, I’m looking forward to what’s next. The qualification I’m hoping to earn will help me in future. I hope to be here long-term, continuing to improve and getting to know our customers, volunteers and members.’

Thank you, Sophie! Good luck with finishing your apprenticeship!

If you are thinking about what to do next in your education, I’d recommend going for an apprenticeship! They are a great way to learn, get more knowledge and experience, and earn money all in one role. I’d love to hear about your apprenticeship journeys too.