Its National Apprenticeship Week 2016 across the UK and were celebrating our Apprentice Academy Apprentices. In todays hot seat, we are delighted to invite adis Runner-Up Apprentice of The Year 2015, Jessica Horton as a guest blogger to tell us more about life as Business Administration Apprentice at adi Group.
My name is Jess Horton. I am 19 and currently studying a Level 3 NVQ Business Administration Apprenticeship. I am in my second year of the apprenticeship and I am looking to progress into Management once I have completed the course.
I started looking for an apprenticeship while I was in my last year of sixth form at Kings Norton Girls School, where I studied English Literature and IT. I always knew that university wasnt the path I wanted to go down, but my school wanted students to pursue a more academic route. Realising this early on, I began looking for companies and colleges that were recruiting for apprentices or ran apprenticeship schemes.
As I applied for more and more places, I found that every time I passed the first stage of the recruitment process, Jessica Hortonmost companies wanted me to drop out of sixth form. With only six months to go, I didnt think this was the right thing to do and continued my search. It wasnt until I attended Bournville Colleges open day that I found adi Group.
In researching the company for my interview, I discovered that the group has a really charitable background, raising lots of money for various different causes, something I had always been a part of in sixth form.
I was lucky enough to have two offers, but adi Group really stood out for me and it was their track record in community investment and the quality of their apprenticeship that really helped to make up my mind.
It was really refreshing to find a company that had the same values and interests that I had, and to find an apprenticeship that allowed me to develop my existing skill set and push me even further. I also like the way that adi Group has taken inspiration for its company ethos from Formula 1. adis chief executive officer, Alan Lusty, has a real passion for the skill and team work that goes into the F1 as well as the fast-paced environment and wants us to replicate that within the business. As F1 is a passion of mine too, its something that really rings true for me, and helps me to understand the culture and vision for the wider business.
It helps too that its a real community environment here, and even though there is a hierarchy, it certainly doesnt feel that way. Alan comes to quite a few of the workshops organised for all the apprentices as part of adis Apprentice Academy, presents to us and has a chat to us afterwards. It means that hes not just the boss hes part of the team too.
I am naturally quite a shy person, but working at adi Group has really brought me out of my shell. Everyone is friendly and helpful, and as my apprenticeship is all about business administration, I have to actively talk to people at all levels and project manage, which has really helped me on a personal as well as a professional level.
IMG_3277I am now in my second year at adi Group and I am loving it. Myself and a colleague have set up a charity tuck shop to help fundraise as part of the companys charity of the year initiative. Ive also been involved in events with adis partner school, North Bromsgrove High.
adi are so supportive Ive even had chats with HR regarding my next steps within the business. Once I have finished my apprenticeship, adi Group have said they will enrol me on a contract management and business course, so that I can progress further within the company.
For more information about adi Group apprenticeships and careers check out our careers page here; www.adiltd.co.uk/careers.