Empowering futures through apprenticeships
At Star Academies, apprentices are an integral part of our growth and success. Apprenticeships can help individuals to develop the skills and knowledge required for a rewarding career, and employers to develop a workforce with future-ready skills. Across Star, we are seeing first-hand that investing in apprenticeships creates skills for life.
Since 2017, we’ve supported 144 colleagues on their apprenticeship journeys. Together, they’ve completed over 20 different programmes. We currently employ 37 apprentices across the organisation, from teachers to sports coaches and business administrators to accountants.
In 2023, Star recruited three apprentices to its central team to support the ongoing growth of the trust whilst investing in the next generation of its workforce. Khaleesah, Siddiqah and Timi are Project Officers in our Education, Projects and Star Institute teams. Alongside their roles, they are being supported to study for a Level 6 Project Manager Degree Apprenticeship with Aston University. To mark National Apprenticeship Week, we asked them about their experiences and why they would recommend an apprenticeship to others.
Why did you decide to commence a degree apprenticeship?
“A degree apprenticeship is a perfect mixture of both working and learning. It gives us the opportunity to gain first-hand experience in the workplace whilst earning a salary and studying towards a fully-funded degree in our chosen careers.
“Apprenticeships offer a more kinaesthetic style of learning which is something we all value. This practical approach gives us the opportunity to apply theory and knowledge from our studies within our job roles as we learn, helping to solidify our understanding and master the required skills.”
What kind of support do you receive?
“Star Academies always makes sure we are well supported, both in our work and in our studies. Our line managers have provided thorough training and induction, and are always there to help us if we have any questions or need advice. Colleagues in teams across the organisation have also dedicated time to assist us when required. Having the opportunity to work alongside professionals and experts at Star Academies has given us valuable insights into best practices and team dynamics, and has contributed to our professional growth and development.”
What benefits have you already seen from your apprenticeship training?
“A key benefit for all of us has been developing confidence in a working environment. Through our experience we have become more assured in our abilities and have become more detail orientated – understanding the importance of precision and accuracy in our tasks and projects. We have also seen benefits in our personal lives as we learn to manage our own money and budget.”
How do you think your apprenticeship will help you in your future career?
“Acquiring valuable experience and skills now means that we will be well-placed in the job market when we complete our apprenticeships. We will be at an advantage to those who have pursued traditional degrees as we will already be familiar with a professional environment. As degree apprentices we’ve had the opportunity to mature and showcase our abilities, demonstrating not only our academic proficiency but also our practical skills and aptitude in real-world settings.”
What advice would you give to someone who is considering an apprenticeship?
“The most important piece of advice we can give is don’t be too hard on yourself – mistakes happen sometimes and you are not expected to know everything right away. Always remember that there are people there to support you whilst you learn. The great thing about being an apprentice is that you bring your own skills and ideas to the organisation, along with a fresh perspective – so your colleagues could end up learning something from you too!
“Apprenticeships utilise time management skills and require discipline as you will usually be working in a full-time job alongside studying and completing your assignments. At times it may feel challenging trying to balance everything, but as you learn to adapt and become more organised you will soon find your rhythm and gradually establish a routine.
“One of the biggest misconceptions is that apprenticeships are for students who don’t perform well academically, however this certainly isn’t the case. In addition to gaining a degree-level qualification, you will also have gained valuable work experience, making you a well-rounded and highly-skilled professional.
“Doing a degree apprenticeship has been a journey of self-discovery and we are all proud of how far we have come since starting at Star Academies. We have achieved more than we ever thought possible and we are looking forward to seeing what the future holds.”
Added By: Star Academies | Date Added: 5th Feb 2024 | Posted In: Latest News