Choosing the apprenticeship route

My name is Shane Riley. I’m an Events Apprentice at the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Hartree Centre. In this blog, I want to share a bit about my journey so far, why I chose an apprenticeship, and what I have learned along the way.

I have always struggled to focus in a classroom learning environment, so I was never really interested in taking the university route. In previous jobs, I was amazed by how much I had grown in a practical environment compared to school and college. So I knew an apprenticeship, where I could gain a qualification and work experience, was right for me. I was also put off by the idea of university because I was worried I would choose a subject that I would later regret and not want to pursue as a career. This made me eager to find a job that would allow me to gain a variety of different experiences and skills, and discover what I enjoy and what I am good at.

I was really excited about this role when applying because I had found a love for the events industry in my previous role at Monopoly Events and wanted to explore the corporate events side of this exciting field. Speaking with my careers adviser at college – and with the staff on my interview panel – really excited me and made me feel like the Hartree Centre was a positive place to work, and they were exactly right. STFC offers so much to its staff, especially new starters, and I knew this organisation would be a great start to my career.

Learning from the team

I have been really impressed by the team at the Hartree Centre. There is a wide range of expertise, with well-trained and experienced people in their own fields, and everyone is willing to offer help and support. I have had valuable opportunities to collaborate across departments, gaining knowledge and insight that have strengthened my work in the events team and sparked my interest in other areas. I feel especially fortunate to be part of the Business and Stakeholder Engagement team, who have supported me from the very beginning and encouraged me to try new things and work across teams. Their guidance has played a huge role in my development, and I wouldn’t have been able to do what I have so far without this experienced and supportive group around me.

Developing valuable skills

In my first six months at the Hartree Centre, I have developed far more skills than I imagined possible. I have learned how to communicate effectively across teams in a professional and clear manner. I have learned how to organise myself and prioritise my tasks by level of importance, which keeps me on track throughout the day. I have also learned how to plan and deliver a successful event, ensuring it runs smoothly so that attendees can focus on the content rather than the organisation.

I have also been given opportunities to develop skills that I did not expect to be part of my role, such as public speaking at all staff meetings, as well as returning to my former college to deliver a presentation to digital art students about what apprenticeships can offer people interested in the creative industries.

Proud achievements

One of my highlights so far was collaborating with the Hartree Centre communications team on an event that I had arranged for some of our other apprentices. The software engineer apprentices wanted to host a crash course open to staff members on how to use the PICO-8 game engine. I really loved this idea, as it was a great opportunity for them to develop transferable skills in public speaking, training and leadership, as well as showcase their abilities in coding and game development.

I worked with the communications team to capture event photography to highlight their work. I then wrote a LinkedIn post and with the support of the communications team, developed my event communication skills further. I was proud of this project because it gave me, as an apprentice, the chance to support other apprentices, which is something we are so fortunate to be able to do here as there is a large cohort of apprentices who all join you on your journey from day one.

Being a student

I have really enjoy the balance between learning and working. I attend monthly seminars with an experienced tutor and a group of other events apprentices from different companies. This allows me to learn more about the events industry from across different sectors. I also have monthly progression meetings where we discuss the skills and experiences I have been developing and what I can do to progress even further.

After each seminar, I am given a project to complete, such as creating an event budget plan or an event proposal, where I present events I have worked on or research events from before my time. I enjoy these projects because they give me an opportunity to reflect on my own work, which is so important when learning.

Advice for future apprentices

My advice for people applying for apprenticeships is to reach out and offer to volunteer your skills to companies that you admire. This will allow you to learn from new people, discover what you are interested in and good at, and build a portfolio of work that you can take into your next steps. More importantly, you will build confidence in knowing that your skills are valued across industries. That is something I have truly learned here at the Hartree Centre.

I would also advise enrolling in our work experience placements to develop your skills and taking advantage of the free CPD accredited training courses that we offer. They are accessible to people at any stage of their learning journey.

I would also encourage people to make the most of the positions they are currently in, whether that is a job, university or college. Get involved in as much as possible to build your experience and passion for work. I attended mock interview days, workshops and careers fairs, doing everything I could to grow my skills and build connections. Now, in this role, I am fortunate enough to do the same and attend courses to further develop my abilities.

Above all, remember that apprenticeships are accessible to anyone at any age. Whether you are leaving secondary school, college, university or making a career change, there is an apprenticeship out there for you.