Adam's story - from apprentice to Administrator Feb 11, 2025

What made you decide on an apprenticeship in the first place?

So, it provided me with an opportunity and an easier path to into IT, I already had the qualifications, but the apprenticeship let me build me knowledge and gave me a gateway into it. It can be a really competitive field so having the opportunity to learn whilst getting that experience was invaluable.

What helped make the decision for an apprenticeship over employment or further education?

I wasn’t ready yet for going straight into an administrator role. I personally have not enjoyed the traditional way of further education - didn’t help me personally - so I was excited to try a new way of both theory and practical learning.

What benefits did you find from the apprenticeship?

I feel that I learnt a lot more - as there was also opportunities to implement what I had learnt. Also if I made a mistake there were plenty of opportunities for learning development with support from colleagues who had that practical knowledge.

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What did you find difficult about the apprenticeship?

I would say the time management was tough. Properly managing a workload as well as the apprenticeship workload did have it's difficulties but it helped me to work on that skill for the future.

What benefits and support did you get from being in a workplace environment with the apprenticeship?

I felt that there was more help and support as you are surrounded by not only your team but a wider business of colleagues. I also had a colleague who had previously done their apprenticeship - it so there was a lot of support. With the coursework it allowed for opportunities for me to practically implement learning so that I could continue to develop.

What has happened since the end of your apprenticeship?

A lot of new stuff! There's still a lot of learning, but it really helped me build my confidence in the business. And of course I’m now an Administrator!

How did your experience go / how have your skills and confidence changed?

My skills have gone up in terms of practical implementation. I did a college course before but it was lot of theory of what to do, and less figuring it our practically. It’s helped me personally, with my confidence and now find it easier to speak to people. It’s also helped improve the time management as I’ve learn the apprenticeship.

What advice would you give others that are looking into an apprenticeship?

Just go for it. It’s a lot different than if you go to uni. Uni will have lectures and classes, but when you do an apprenticeship, you’re learning as you're working. You can set time for your tasks, but a lot of the task will work with what your doing. So rather than hypotheticals you're actually doing practical work to help grow, develop and learn. Especially for IT – if in college we made fake networks to practice on, but here I saw real ones, and it helps you understand it a lot more. You don’t get to see what it’s like as it grows, and with the stress on it for business growth and how to work with that.

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