Life of an Apprentice - Short Film

The apprentice ambassadors have been working with apprentices from Brighton based digital media company SeeThat who are in partnership with Creative Process to put together a promotional film about apprenticeships.    

All of the apprentices in the film work within Brighton & Hove City Council.

The film will be shown in schools, at local Job Centres and events across the city held by the apprentice ambassadors to raise awareness of apprenticeships both at the council and in general as a learning pathway.

                   Apprentices at Brighton & Hove City Council from SeeThat on Vimeo.

Our apprentice graduate, Lucy Strutt

Lucy Strutt

Lucy is one of our apprentice ambassadors and has been carrying out her Human Recourses (HR) apprenticeship with Brighton & Hove City Council (BHCC) for 15 months.

Lucy graduated her apprentice on the 2 February 2015 with a level 5 Diploma in HR Management, which is the equivalent to a foundation degree at university. 

Lucy described her apprenticeship as an “amazing experience” and has landed herself a new job, starting on the 16 February 2015. The job is with an Occupational Health Company as an HR Administrator. Lucy said: "My apprenticeship is to thank for this." 

You can hear the full interview with Lucy via our AudioBoom channel. 

Ellie Bacon & Lucy Strutt

Six 1 hour sessions for Year 8 pupils at Varndean High School - Wednesday 28 January

Rosie O'Connor

On Wednesday 28 January two of our ambassadors, Rosie and Jamie spent a day at Varndean High School visiting six Year 8 classes.

The aim was to provide the students with an overview of their options post-school, with a focus on apprenticeships.

The ambassadors filled each hour-long session with team-building exercises and educational games, designed to get everyone thinking about different learning styles and how they connect with different aspects of college, sixth form, university and apprenticeships.

Rosie, Apprentice Ambassador and Cultural Apprentice, said: “On the whole the students were really engaged and we had lots of interesting discussions about what life is like after school.

Jamie McFadden

“One emerging theme in these sessions is that it’s very important to be able to chat with the students in small groups, as that seems to be how they are most comfortable talking about their aspirations, and taking advice."

This was the ambassadors first time working with this age group, and the general response was very encouraging. The students now have an understanding about how an apprenticeship could suit their learning style, without already being totally fixed on following the crowds to college or university.

Good work team and thanks to Varndean School for having us. 

BACA Sixth Form Assembly - 29 January 2015

Rosie O'Connor

Our apprentice ambassadors Rosie, Ellie and Rachel attended BACA Sixth Form to hold an apprenticeship information assembly.

For this our three ambassadors spoke to over 20 pupils at the sixth form about apprenticeships as well as sharing their own experiences.

Together they held a presentation, which included:

• Introductions from the apprentice and a description of the apprenticeship they are carrying out.

Rachel Maddison

• The apprentice film

•  Panel Q&A session – pre written questions for the ambassadors to answer, this gave greater detail of what an apprenticeship involves.

Ellie Bacon

Rachel Maddison, Procurement apprentice and apprentice ambassador, said: “It was exciting to show our brand new film clip, this was the first time being shown publically.

"The panel style Q&A session gave us the chance to talk about our experiences as an apprentice, the benefits and our plans for the future.

"A couple of students showed a real interest, and I hope we managed to show all who attended the many pathways apprenticeships create, and hopefully inspiring some future apprentices."

Find out more about our Apprentice Ambassadors 

Behind the scenes - the making of the BHCC apprenticeship film

Seven apprentices from a variety of departments at Brighton & Hove City Council (BHCC) have been involved in the making of an apprenticeship promotional film. 

The film is for apprentices by apprentices with apprentices from BHCC, SeeThat and Creative Process involved in the planning, filming, editing and production. 

The film will be ready by the end of December 2014 and will be shown at all of the promotional events the apprentice ambassadors attend in the future as well as being used to attract potential apprentices to the council.

Here is a sneak preview of four of our Apprentice Ambassadors being filmed using green screen technology in the City College Brighton and Hove film studio -Ellie (top left), Kelly (top right), Lucy (bottom left), Rosie (bottom right)

Are you interested in carrying out an apprenticeship?

New apprentice, Vinny Stephenson

Vinny Stephenson

Age: 19 
Apprenticeship: Technical support officer.
Qualification: Business Administration, NVQ level 2 at Brighton City College.

Vinny started his apprenticeship three weeks ago with Brighton & Hove City Council (BHCC) and has already adapted to the fast working environment and new college course.

Prior to Vinny applying for his apprenticeship, he carried out a 3 month voluntary Traineeship at BHCC in aim to gain experience working in an office environment as well as developing his computer skills. He later applied for his apprenticeship and landed himself the job.

We asked Vinny why he applied for an apprenticeship at BHCC, he said:

“Having done my Traineeship with Brighton & Hove City Council, I know how well organised they are as well as being one of the biggest employers in the city and I thought who better to do it with.

“Doing the Traineeship, gave me the confidence to apply for this particular apprenticeship and I couldn’t be happier and I look forward to going into work every day, feeling a sense of responsibility, especially earning my own money.”

We later asked Vinny, why he decided to take on an apprenticeship rather than going to university, Vinny said:

“I felt more comfortable doing an apprenticeship and learning on the job, gaining a qualification and getting paid was a much better option for me, rather than getting into debt. I feel an apprenticeship is extremely valuable to put on the CV and take with me to any future employment and personally I feel an apprenticeship was the right route for me.”

Hear full interview with Vinny  

Our next stop... Longhill High School

We will be attending Personal Social Health Education (P.S.H.E) classes at Longhill High School, holding sessions for students with the aim to encourage young people to take on an apprenticeship after school or college.

The session will include activities and the ambassadors sharing their experiences as an apprentice. 

There will be 1 session a month in November, December and January 2014. 

Get to know your ambassadors

To find out more about us as individuals see link below:
http://apprenticeambassadors.blogspot.co.uk/p/blog-page.html?zx=adfe4020bd25c66e

Sussex-wide careers event at Brighton Racecourse, 15 October 2014

Our apprentice ambassadors Kelly Butler (left) and Lucy Strutt (Right) attended the all day Sussex-wide careers event at Brighton Racecourse, 15 October 2014.

Over 30 school across Sussex attended the event, visiting a range different stalls all providing careers advice to young people. 

Our ambassadors Kelly and Lucy were among this giving advice and real life experience of what being an apprentice is like and what it involves, as well as encouraging the idea of taking on an apprenticeship after school or college. 

Kelly Butler, Human Resources apprentice, said: "At this event, we managed to inform a number of young people about apprenticeships and the opportunities that are available to them, gaining positive feedback on this. 

Doing career events like this, allows us as an organisation to interact with young people and gives them a sense of what is available when they leave school or college."

Hove Park Sixth Form freshers assembly, 7 October 2014

Our ambassadors Ellie Bacon and Lucy Strutt attended Hove Park Sixth Form freshers assembly today (7 October 2014) to raise awareness to students about apprenticeships. 

Ellie and Lucy gave advice and their own experiences as an apprentice at Brighton & Hove City Council to the students as well as promoting the different types of apprenticeships available locally and nationally.

Ellie Bacon, Communications Apprentice said: "I really enjoyed being able to help and advise sixth form students today as they are in the same position I was in only two years ago.

I also enjoyed providing real life experience as an apprentice and I feel this can be extremely valuable to anyone considering an apprenticeship."