Katie
I'm a second-year Modern Languages undergraduate at Lincoln College. I am interested in a career in marketing and communications and am currently Media Officer on an educational charity's committee. 
I found the micro-internship very enjoyable. It was great to see the work the Apprenticeship Office does and to meet and interview some apprentices. It was also really interesting to meet people from different departments and to gain an insight into what they do in their jobs. All of this allowed me to see how dynamic a job in university administration can be, a sector that I am definitely interested in working in in the future. 


In the middle of March 2017, Oxford Apprenticeships opened up their offices (and their canteen) to three students from the University. Based at the University Administration and Services (UAS) building in Wellington Square, over three days we interviewed apprentices all over Oxford, received talks from other departments in the building about what they do and how the staff got into their jobs, and also had a chance to interview an academic for the Oxford Arts Blog, working with Oxford’s Media Relations Manager, Matt Pickles.

On the first day, we came in at 9.30am and were introduced to things by Anna Malkin and Clive Shepherd, the Apprenticeships Manager. They were both very friendly and gave us a tour of the place after explaining what they do and what they’d like us to do. We were then sent out to interview our first apprentices before coming back for lunch. We had some time after that to turn our interviews into a neat, written format and think about social media before some of the News and Information Team, Matt and Stuart, came to talk to us. They explained what they do for the University and their background as journalists. Matt also told us a little more about his plans for us to interview academics. We then had more time to continue writing up our interviews, then headed home at about 5pm.

The next day we went straight to the Engineering Workshop at the Southwell Building at 10am to interview two apprentice technicians and an apprentice receptionist. When we arrived back at UAS, we again had some time to start writing things up before Silvia Verdolini came to talk to us about Public Engagement with Research (PER), discussing the work she was doing in promoting academic research to the public and her background in astronomy and astrophysics. We then went to lunch, and spent the afternoon writing things up and thinking about how we wanted to put what we had done on the Apprenticeships blog, website and social media accounts. That afternoon we also received emails from Matt with briefings for our interviews with academics the next day.

On the final day of our internship we went to these interviews, chatting to academics about a project they’re working on or something that has been reported in the news, then came back for lunch and again had time to write up. Near the end of the day we were invited along to a communications talk with Oxford Innovation, and then we spent a little more time uploading our interviews to the Apprenticeships blog while Anna chatted to us about our plans for the future.

Aston Tyrell is currently undertaking a 4 year Apprenticeship in Mechanical Maintenance with the Department of Engineering Science. His Apprenticeship requires him to attend college once a week and work in the workshop for the remaining 4 days, allowing him to gain theoretical knowledge as well as practical experience.

Aston started the Apprenticeship after being at a local college for three years. He heard about the Oxford University Apprenticeships from one of his college lecturers who encouraged many students to go onto apply for one. He also saw an Apprenticeship as an opportunity to gain experience in the field he is interested in and to earn money at the same time.

His work in the workshop is varied and has helped Aston develop his social skills. Alongside this the money he earns has allowed him to fund his passion for cars and car racing. It is, however, the prospect of receiving a qualification at the end of the Apprenticeship that keeps Aston motivated as it will allow him to take on a full-time position.

“The Apprenticeship has turned out to be much better than I thought it would be!” and with Aston receiving good training alongside other Apprentices, he is able to make friends in the workplace as well as progress in his career. Aston believes that more employers should consider taking on Apprentices as, in many cases, an Apprentice who has learnt ‘on the job’ becomes much more qualified and capable than a university graduate.  

Harry started his apprenticeship about a year ago after studying maths and engineering at college. He enjoys every day of it and the people he works around. In the future, he’d like to use his experience to go abroad wherever his work takes him.

Dan Pull, Network Operations Technician at University of Oxford IT Services

Dan knew he wanted to work in IT after he left school but wasn’t sure which area to go into. He completed a Network Operations apprenticeship with the University of Oxford’s IT Services from 2014-2016 and now works full time there as a Network Operations Technician. 

"Working, learning and earning!" What more could you want? 

Harry Clarke is undertaking a two year Apprenticeship in HR at the Earth Sciences Department, which he will complete this October. Alongside working for the department, the Apprenticeship so far has involved him obtaining his level 2 and 3 business qualifications and his level 3 CIPD qualification at Abingdon and Whitney College.

Harry attended Fitzharrys School in Abingdon, where he completed his GCSEs and began his A-Levels, before deciding he would be better suited to an Apprenticeship. He began researching and applying for different Apprenticeships and was informed about the Oxford University Apprenticeships by his mother, who also works at the university.

Upon embarking on the Apprenticeship, Harry has gained team working skills and networking experience, alongside general business experience. In his job at the Earth Sciences Department he is involved with recruitment, pay roll, travel insurance and administrating new starters and leavers. Even just the experience of working in an office has been worthwhile, as this is an experience graduates do not have. In addition, the Apprenticeship Training he has received has taught him a broad range of business skills that, not only help him with his current job, but have also have prepared him for any future job in the business world. Harry strives to do his best in the workplace as receiving recognition is a huge motivation for him.

Harry said the best aspect of his Apprenticeship is that it allows him to be “working, learning and earning” all at the same time, something degree study or a job with no training simply cannot offer. He thinks that more employers should look into running Apprenticeships, but only if they “ensure they have enough work” to give to the Apprentice and that they have the time to manage and oversee the Apprentice. As for future Apprentices, Harry’s top tips were to apply to as many as possible and to ask for feedback after an interview, to help make future applications even stronger! The most important thing, however, is to make sure you are interested in the type of Apprenticeship you are applying for as Apprenticeships require hard work and dedication.

“It’ll set you up so well and that’ll be so good to have on your CV!”

Are you looking for great opportunities? Do you want an exciting, rewarding, and challenging job? Do you have a skill that you want to develop that is not a university degree? Chloe Thompson tells you why to do an Apprenticeship!

If you’re afraid to enter the work environment, an Apprenticeship is what you’re looking for! “Being an Apprentice as my first job was really good, because you have a safety blanket, so you’re not just coming in expected to get on with it like maybe another person that just had a normal job”.

Chloe has always been fascinated with HR. Although is only 20 years old, she already works in the HR for the Blavatnik School of Government. She did her HR Apprenticeship there, which she completed with the CIPD Level 3 Certificate in Human Resources Practice. The Apprenticeship has given her a lot of experience and skills, along with qualification and money. She got a lot in return: “One of the best things about my Apprenticeship is the people who are always really, really thankful, so you know you’ve done a good job”.

For young people considering whether to do an Apprenticeship, Chloe has a word of advice:

“Try to have an idea of the kind of thing you want to do.

Make sure that you do your application properly, because Apprenticeships are getting increasingly more competitive, so you need to really stand out.

Don’t get disappointed if you don’t get the first Apprenticeship that you applied for. I know a lot of people that didn’t get their first one.

Don’t be scared of the work environment: everyone knows where you work that you’re an Apprentice and learning.

Grab it with both hands, take any opportunity that’s given to you, because you might not get opportunities as this in the future!”