The Apprentice Roadshow & Graduation Ceremony 2015

The Apprentice Ambassadors hosted the first-ever Apprentice Roadshow and Graduation Ceremony, which featured ice breaker games, workshops, inspirational speakers and training sessions. 

The apprentices heard about how to use Facebook and Twitter to find work as well as hearing stories from inspirational speakers.

There are apprentices working across a range of the 800 services the council provides, from the city’s famous Royal Pavilion & Museums, health and social care, schools and much more. 

Kelly Butler, Apprentice Ambassador and Graduate, described the icebreakers as her "favourite part of the day, as it got everyone chatting to each other and it was a fun exercise to do."  

The apprentices also had the opportunity to network with each other and have said they will agree to meet up again. 

Rachel Madison, Apprentice Ambassador and Graduate, said: "Our speakers Corinna Allen and Gary Peters really made the day special by sharing their inspiration stories, and showing the apprentices that they can achieve anything if they put their heart into it." 

Guest speaker Gary Peters, Chief Executive of Love Local Jobs, said: "There are many apprentices out there doing a great job and educating themselves while working at the same time. 

"I don't know if there is a network where they can swap information and stories to help one another, so events like this are absolutely critical and need to be applauded on that."

Chief Executive, Penny Thompson, said: “I think it is really good for apprentices to come in contact with one another and it is great for managers to get appreciation for the work they have done with apprentices. A bit of celebration is a very good thing."

The Graduation

Apprentice Graduates, Rosie and Kelly

Rosie O'Connor

Rosie O'Connor

Cultural Apprentice, Rosie O'Connor has recently graduated from her apprenticeship with the Royal Pavilion & Museums and has landed herself a new job with Brighton Dome & Festival as Administrative Assistant.

Rosie was studying towards a Business Administration Diploma, Level 3 at Chichester College which she recently completed in January. She also completed a Level 2 NVQ in Customer Service in 2014, also with the Royal Pavilion & Museums.

Rosie, said: “I have had a wonderful two years working for the Royal Pavilion Museums and have been given so many incredible opportunities. I’ve worked on a huge variety of projects, including building exhibitions and delivering the schools programme, and have been able to develop a wide range of skills under the guidance of my team.

"The apprenticeship provided a great structure for my training and gave me solid standards for workplace knowledge which will be very helpful in my career.

My confidence in the workplace has massively increased and I’ve gained a real understanding of how the Arts & Cultural sector works. 

"My apprenticeship has given me the qualifications and high quality experience needed to stay in this competitive sector and I can’t wait to start my new role with Brighton Dome & Festival.” 

Kelly Butler

Kelly Butler

Human Resources (HR) Apprentice, Kelly Butler has also graduated from her apprenticeship with Brighton & Hove City Council and has secured herself a job with the Organisational and Workforce Development team as an Administrator within the council. 

Kelly was studying towards a Level 5 Higher Apprenticeship in Human Resources Management at Chichester College, which she has also successfully passed.

Kelly said: “Working in the HR department as an Apprentice has been such a great experience. I have been lucky enough to work with all teams in HR, which I feel gave me the confidence, knowledge and experience needed when applying for this particular role.

"I am thankful to everyone in the HR department for teaching me everything I need to know about Human Resources, and ensuring that I gain valuable skills and knowledge for future employment.

"Being an Apprentice at Brighton & Hove City Council has provided me with many transferable skills, which I wouldn’t have developed if it wasn’t for my HR apprenticeship.

"I cannot wait to start my new job in the Workforce Development team!”

New Local Taxation Apprentices - Liz and Will.

Liz Moore, 28 and Will Kemp, 19 are now fully underway with their Local Taxation Apprenticeship with Brighton & Hove City Council (BHCC). 

The pair started their apprenticeship in November 2014 and will finish April 2016. 

Our Background

Liz: "Before my apprenticeship I was working in Brazil as an English Teacher, I then went on to work with Health Management Companies in Australia and England, after this I worked at EDF Energy in Portslade."

Will: "After I finished college I didn't know what to do, so I ended up working in Tesco for a year. I wanted to move on and learn and new trade while getting paid, so I decided to go for an apprenticeship."

Hear the full interview with Liz and Will

Planning the Apprentice Roadshow & Graduation Ceremony

The apprentice ambassadors have been planning an Apprentice Roadshow and Graduation Ceremony for Friday 13 March 2015, during National Apprenticeship Week. 

The Roadshow is for all apprentices at Brighton & Hove City Council, offering the opportunity to network, listen to guest speakers and join in group activities.  

Rachel Maddison, Ellie Bacon & Kelly Butler

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