At WestSpring we pride ourselves on our development opportunities. A lot of our team have started their career in the IT industry at WestSpring. To celebrate National Apprentices’ week, we caught up with some of our apprentices, past and present, to learn more about their experience of doing an apprenticeship at WestSpring.
Q: Who are you and what apprenticeship did you do?
Max: I’m Max, I’m 21 and I’m a Digital Marketing Executive at WestSpring. My apprenticeship was a Level 3 Digital Marketing Apprenticeship.
Elliott: I’m Elliott, 26, Head of Procurement, and I did a Level 3 Technical Analyst Apprenticeship.
Meg: I’m Meg, 23, Office Admin, and I’m currently doing a Level 3 Diploma in Business Administration.
Q: How has it been/is it going?
Max: My apprenticeship was good. I enjoyed learning about all aspects of Digital Marketing whilst also gaining experience on the job and getting to know the team and business at WestSpring.
Elliott: It was great to get some confidence and learn about systems, I also found the CompTIA A+ exam really beneficial.
Meg: Good, I’ve learnt a lot. My apprenticeship has allowed me to see the broader scale of the job outside my everyday tasks.
Q: Why choose an apprenticeship?
Max: I think you should choose an apprenticeship because it’s a great opportunity to gain knowledge on your subject and work experience as well, all whilst getting paid.
Elliott: An apprenticeship helps bridge the gap from when you leave education and allows you to continue to learn more while you find your feet in a new industry.
Meg: It’s a great way to learn on the job, putting the practical skills alongside the syllabus. An apprenticeship gives you a wider view of all aspects of the job role.
Q: What have you learned? Three key takeaways
Max: I learned how much there actually is to learn about Digital Marketing and how important learning on the job is as it allowed me to put everything I learned into real work.
Elliott: On the job experience is extremely valuable. You get out what you put in. It’s important to do your apprenticeship in an environment that allows for self-study.
Meg: I’ve learnt how my role relates to the world around me, how to put skills learnt on paper into action within the workplace as well as different approaches to the job role than what is written within the syllabus.
Q: What would you say to any young person – or anyone considering an apprenticeship?
Max: I’d say defo go for it; it’s a great way to get into a new role. My apprenticeship was the first thing I’d ever done in Digital Marketing and felt like I learnt a lot throughout, and 2 and a half years later I’m still loving it.
Elliott: It’s a great way to get your foot in the door into growing businesses in your chosen industry – especially if you are unsure of what you want to do next.
Meg: Do it, nothing beats learning and earning on the job.
Q: What are your future ambitions within WestSpring?
Max: My future ambitions within the company are to keep working hard, producing my best work and progress as far as I can.
Elliott: Director of Procurement with a full team around helping to continue to shape and grow the business and the team. Give others the opportunity to experience the personal and career growth that WestSpring has provided me.
Meg: To grow within my current role and explore new avenues to find the parts I enjoy and excel in best.
If you are looking to start or further your career in the IT industry, check out our careers page for our latest vacancies or follow our socials to see what it’s like working here.