Learner case study: Scott Turner
Don’t ever give up on learning!
“An apprenticeship will teach you so much; some of which you won’t even realise at the time. It really is like no other type of learning.” |
Access Training has supported hundreds of apprentices in completing their Level 2, 3 and 5 Team Leader/Manager qualifications.
Scott Turner is the Admin Support Officer for People Inclusion at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. Here he shares why apprenticeships really help to accelerate potential. |
“My working life started as a till operator at B&Q. I was often asked to cash up and it got me really interested in spreadsheets, databases and IT in general. I eventually left B&Q to help care for my terminally-ill grandfather. The support my family got from the hospital left a lasting effect on me.
A sector-based work academy was my springboard
As I was unemployed at that time, my job coach at the job centre in Bulwell offered me two opportunities: one was a job at KFC and the other was a place on a 6-week sector-based work academy. The latter really captured my interest, particularly as it offered guidance on interview and presentation skills. I gained a Level 1 qualification in Employability Skills and my work experience at the hospital presented me with the opportunity to prove my worth to be accepted as an apprentice.
I secured my Level 3 Business Administration qualification in June 2016, when I was based in the Radiology department. Five months later I secured my full-time role of Admin Support Officer.
Like many apprentices, I’ve developed a hunger for learning! I went on to qualify for my Level 3 Apprenticeship in Management in 2019, and I’m now looking to upskill further with a particular focus on communications.
Flying the flag for Apprenticeships
My role as Admin Support Officer is two-fold: promoting equality, diversity and inclusion for both staff and patients and staff engagement via the national and local surveys. Other aspects of my role include annual planning processes; projects work to support frontline staff; coordinating relevant careers and recruitment related activities; and providing general administrative support for meetings.
At the heart of this plan every year is our apprenticeship programme and how we might better engage staff to consider apprentices in the first instance for entry-level posts.
I work closely with our apprenticeship lead, Michelle Place, on promoting apprenticeships at career events. Nottingham is one of the most deprived cities in England so I see it as vitally important that the Trust continues to offer an opportunity for those with little educational attainment to get that first step into learning and employment.
Internal resistance to Apprenticeships
The biggest barrier I’ve faced in converting colleagues to the merits of apprenticeships is the misconception about age. There’s still a misconception that apprenticeships are only suitable for the 16-24 age range. I often use some of our older apprentices as case studies when I’m flying my Apprenticeship flag to help dispel that myth. One story I like to tell is of a lady who contacted me for information about an apprenticeship for her son; when she realised there was no age limit, she put herself forward too!
Overcoming your inner barriers
The best advice I’d give to someone considering an apprenticeship?
Just because you haven’t secured qualifications in the past doesn’t mean you should give up on yourself! We live in a world of ever-changing policy and procedures so it pays to keep up.
There’s no denying it can be daunting when you first look at what’s required at each Apprenticeship level but the support around you, from your line manager and your Access Trainer assessor, will help you to overcome your inner barriers.
An apprenticeship will teach you so much; some of which you won’t even realise at the time. It really is like no other type of learning. You’ll learn how to manage your study time; meet deadlines; research the knowledge needed for your role (for me this was medical terminology); and, importantly, know when to ask questions or for help.”
A sector-based work academy was my springboard
As I was unemployed at that time, my job coach at the job centre in Bulwell offered me two opportunities: one was a job at KFC and the other was a place on a 6-week sector-based work academy. The latter really captured my interest, particularly as it offered guidance on interview and presentation skills. I gained a Level 1 qualification in Employability Skills and my work experience at the hospital presented me with the opportunity to prove my worth to be accepted as an apprentice.
I secured my Level 3 Business Administration qualification in June 2016, when I was based in the Radiology department. Five months later I secured my full-time role of Admin Support Officer.
Like many apprentices, I’ve developed a hunger for learning! I went on to qualify for my Level 3 Apprenticeship in Management in 2019, and I’m now looking to upskill further with a particular focus on communications.
Flying the flag for Apprenticeships
My role as Admin Support Officer is two-fold: promoting equality, diversity and inclusion for both staff and patients and staff engagement via the national and local surveys. Other aspects of my role include annual planning processes; projects work to support frontline staff; coordinating relevant careers and recruitment related activities; and providing general administrative support for meetings.
At the heart of this plan every year is our apprenticeship programme and how we might better engage staff to consider apprentices in the first instance for entry-level posts.
I work closely with our apprenticeship lead, Michelle Place, on promoting apprenticeships at career events. Nottingham is one of the most deprived cities in England so I see it as vitally important that the Trust continues to offer an opportunity for those with little educational attainment to get that first step into learning and employment.
Internal resistance to Apprenticeships
The biggest barrier I’ve faced in converting colleagues to the merits of apprenticeships is the misconception about age. There’s still a misconception that apprenticeships are only suitable for the 16-24 age range. I often use some of our older apprentices as case studies when I’m flying my Apprenticeship flag to help dispel that myth. One story I like to tell is of a lady who contacted me for information about an apprenticeship for her son; when she realised there was no age limit, she put herself forward too!
Overcoming your inner barriers
The best advice I’d give to someone considering an apprenticeship?
Just because you haven’t secured qualifications in the past doesn’t mean you should give up on yourself! We live in a world of ever-changing policy and procedures so it pays to keep up.
There’s no denying it can be daunting when you first look at what’s required at each Apprenticeship level but the support around you, from your line manager and your Access Trainer assessor, will help you to overcome your inner barriers.
An apprenticeship will teach you so much; some of which you won’t even realise at the time. It really is like no other type of learning. You’ll learn how to manage your study time; meet deadlines; research the knowledge needed for your role (for me this was medical terminology); and, importantly, know when to ask questions or for help.”
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