Brighton & Hove City Council apprentices take on the Brathay Apprentice Challenge

five members of the council's team

A team of nine apprentices from Brighton & Hove City Council will be taking part in the Brathay Apprentice Challenge, the search for the apprentice team of the year in England.

The Brathay Apprentice Challenge involves teams of apprentices from organisations all over England competing to be crowned the apprentice team of the year.

The chosen team members include apprentices from finance, IT, procurement, sustainable transport, communications and an electrician apprentice.

They will have to undertake a series of exciting and interactive work-related challenge to develop new skills and showcase their employer by engaging with young people and businesses to promote the benefits of apprenticeships.

The challenges are designed to ensure that the teams demonstrate their teambuilding, leadership, logistical and communications abilities.

The council apprentices will be organising lots of events such as school visits, meeting with employers and doing a community project over the following months to help them win the Challenge and promote apprenticeships along the way.

Team leader, Trevor Lee, said "I'm very excited to have been chosen to participate in the Brathay Apprentice Challenge. This is a wonderful opportunity for us to really demonstrate our skills and learn new ones, whilst also raising the profile of apprenticeships and creating more opportunities for them throughout our city."

For more information on the Brathay Apprentice Challenge visit: www.brathay.org.uk/challenge

New Apprentice

Luke Sheldon-Edwards

Age: 20

Apprenticeship: ICT Apprentice

Qualification: NVQ Level 2 ICT Professional Competence

Why did you choose an apprenticeship?

Becoming an apprentice was a decision I made after a lot of thinking about my time at College. I enjoyed the subjects I studied, but I found that the listen/write/repeat method of learning didn’t suit me, and that the few practical courses I had done were much more engaging. For me, the difference was between knowing all these facts, and actually understanding them.

I didn’t want to go to University where I would never really connect with what I was studying. An Apprenticeship seemed like a great alternative to this, especially in the IT field. There are the massive advantages of being paid while you learn, and gaining real work experience at an early stage.

I’m now part of the Web development team in Brighton & Hove City Council. I learn new things and gain new skills every day, and everyone is incredibly supportive and happy to share their knowledge and experience.

Where do you go to college?

The apprenticeship is provided by City College Brighton & Hove, who provide assessors to support you as you work and complete your course.

Background

I studied Biology, Anthropology, Sociology and Psychology at Varndean College. After this, I worked as a part time social worker for the better part of a year before seeking an ICT focused apprenticeship. I was able to join the Web team despite having no previous web development work experience, only an enthusiasm for computing technology.

Hove Park - Year 9 Options Evening

Ambassadors Georgia and Jamie visited Hove Park School on their year 9 options evening to talk to students about apprenticeships.

Georgia & Jamie with Hove Park PSHE team leader,
Mr Warwick

The ambassadors spent the evening talking to year 9 pupils and their parents and carers. They were able to answer questions and provide information that many students and parents didn't know about apprenticeships. 

Many of them had not realised you could do an apprenticeship straight after school, as some people had thought that college was the only option.

Georgia said, "It was my first school visit as an apprentice ambassador and it was such a brilliant experience. It was great to help and advise parents and students as many people we spoke to were unaware of apprenticeships.

"I can't wait to visit more schools in the future!"

'Why my apprenticeship worked for me'

Rachel Maddison

Brighton & Hove City Council apprentice ambassador, Rachel Maddison, spoke to City College Brighton & Hove about why her apprenticeship has worked so well for her and how it can be a great opportunity for young people.

Rachel did a Level 3 Business and Administration apprenticeship, after which she managed to get a permanent position as a procurement advisor.

She will soon be starting her second apprenticeship with the council in Procurement and Supply Management.

Rachel said: "It still astounds me to think two years ago I was unemployed and lacking any kind of confidence or direction and now I'm happy and in a job I love."


Read the full story here

Apprentice Graduate - Ellie Bacon

Ellie Bacon

Ellie Bacon

Communications Apprentice, Ellie Bacon has recently graduated from her apprenticeship with Brighton and Hove City Council and has now moved up to London where she has started doing work experience with BBC TV entertainment. She spent 2 years working with the press office and web team within the Communications department, putting together press releases of stories that involved Brighton council, working on news desk, making short promotional films, and working on social media and web content.

Ellie achieved her level 3 NCTJ Journalism diploma, which is a new trailblazer apprenticeship at Lambeth College.

Ellie, said: “My apprenticeship has been amazing, I've learnt so much from everyone in the communications team and gained a national qualification which I can take with me where ever I go next. It has been an amazing spring board to my career and I leave with no debt which I would have if I went to university"

Ellie has made way for new Communications Apprentice, Theo Duncumb Rogers. 

New Apprentice

Georgia Easteal

Age: 16

Apprenticeship: Transport Projects Apprentice

Qualification: NVQ Level 2 Business Administration

Why did you choose an apprenticeship?

I did a lot of research during year 11 on which education path I would go down after leaving school. I was unsure which career I was interested in and I didn’t want to go to college for two years and finish with qualifications that would not help me get the job I wanted.

I went to Longhill High School, who provided information on apprenticeships and we were visited by the apprentice ambassadors. This, and my own research, made me choose an apprenticeship as I know that I would be receiving good training, learning many useful skills and it would open up opportunities for me.

As I have come straight from school I was not sure what to expect, it took a few days to settle in but I got used to it very quickly. Everyone is really supportive and I am learning lots of new skills.

I’m glad I decided to do an apprenticeship as it has given me a sense of responsibility and along with earning my own money, knowing that my work is helping the residents of Brighton and Hove is a reward in itself.

Where do you go to college?

My college course is provided by City College, however I am able to do all my work in the workplace so I don’t need to go to college every week.

Background

I’ve recently left school and this apprenticeship placement is my first type of work I’ve ever done. One of my hobbies is dance which I do every Friday and also did as one of my GCSE options. 

New Apprentice

Theo Duncumb Rogers

Age: 19 

Apprenticeship: Communications Apprentice
Qualification: NCTJ Level 3 Junior Journalist

Why did you choose an apprenticeship?

I had a gap year in which I spent most of the time wondering what I should do. I didn’t know what I would study at university and didn’t want to spend a ridiculous amount of money to study something that I was unsure I wanted to do. I also didn’t want to be burdened with the debt that university comes with. I thought an apprenticeship was the right thing for me as I would gain experience and a free qualification, which I wouldn’t get in a regular job.

I now work in the Brighton & Hove City Council press office where I write press releases, answer media enquiries and help run the council’s social media sites. Brighton & Hove City Council are the only local authority in the south east that employees journalist apprenticeships so am really grateful to be given this opportunity. 

Where do you go to college?

I attend Lambeth College in London once a week where I study shorthand, media law and news reporting.

Background

After finishing college at BHASVIC, I took a gap year in which I got a job at Boots to gain some experience. I also did a bit of travelling where I went to Gran Canaria, Paris and I interrailed around Europe. I attended Glastonbury festival and volunteered with Oxfam at Bestival which was a really great experience.

Our registrar apprentices

Paul Wadsworth (left), Terri Challis (centre)  Hannah Cydnie (right)

Registrations Service have recently employed their second apprentice as their first moves onto new adventures. 

Apprenticeships are work-based training programmes leading to a nationally recognised qualification for the apprentice to help their own career development.

Paul Wadsworth, Registration Officer says, “Employing a young Apprentice lifted the spirits of the whole service. The staff wanted to help, support and watch the young person grow as a  professional and as a person. Terri Challis, our first Apprentice said “The programme allowed me to gain workplace experience and personal confidence. It also gave me the time to make positive choices about my future with a clear direction and purpose.”  After working within the service as a registrar over the summer Terri is off to study English Language and Linguistics at The University of  Roehampton.  

Hannah Cydnie is the councils new registrar apprentice studying towards Level 2 in Customer Services. Hannah says, “I am really enjoying my apprenticeship at the Register Office. Everyone is very supportive at work especially Terri. She helped me when I started and continued until she left. She helped me learn the job and helped me with college work. She was a brilliant member of the team and a great mentor to me. I am now an apprentice ambassador. I wanted to do this role to tell other people about apprenticeships and give them advice. I have spoken at events at Varndean College and the Job Centre. I enjoy being an ambassador to share my experience and information about apprenticeships”.

Varndean College, year 12 ‘Moving on day’

Hannah, Jamie and Rachel

Ambassdors Jamie and Rachel, along with new ambassador Hannah, went to Varndean College to run two sessions on Apprenticeships for first year students.

The ambassadors started the sessions by sharing their personal experiences and explained some of the basics about apprenticeships, how to apply for them online as well as an interactive true or false quiz aimed at busting some of the myths surrounding apprenticeships. 

They also got the students invoved by sitting down with them in groups to discus their career goals and answer any queries.

New apprentice ambassador, Hannah Cydnie, said: "I found the experience great and to see how many young people are interested in apprenticeships is brilliant. I am looking forward to doing more events to spread the word on apprenticeships and give people more knowledge about them.”

Meet the new Apprentice Ambassadors

The apprentice ambassadors have re-launched this year with new recruits and are gearing up to visit the Job Centre, schools and colleges across the city.                                                            

The new apprentices have joined the existing team, making total of seven ambassadors, all of which are apprentices at Brighton & Hove City Council, covering a range of different sectors from the Register Office, Adult Social Care to Media and Communications and are all undertaking a nationally recognised qualification from level 2, advanced level 3 to higher level 5.

Since starting in June 2014, the ambassadors have reached 1,705 young people and 200 parents across Brighton & Hove.

The ambassadors were brought together by Brighton & Hove City Education and Inclusion department, to promote the importance and availability of apprenticeships to young people and parents/carers, giving them the chance to find out about other career options. 

Councillor Tom Bewick, Chair of Children, Young People & Skills Committee, said: “One of the biggest difficulties for young people is getting their foot in the door entering the job market for the first time and break the cycle of no experience.

“The apprentice ambassadors are not only representing themselves but the council and it is extremely important that we continue to provide this resource to young people across the city to create the awareness of other opportunities that are available to them.”

Kelly Butler, former Human Resourses Apprentice and Ambassador, said: “I have secured myself a full-time job with Human Resourses Workforce Development team as an Administrator at Brighton & Hove City Council.

“Being an Apprentice Ambassador was a great experience and helped me to develop new skills which then led to permanent employment at the council. Being an apprentice ambassador was definitely a contributing factor to getting the job as I gained such valuable experience, knowledge and skills from being part of the team.”

ENDS