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Estates Services have written a post on their website about the Oxford University Apprenticeship Awards that took place in December.
One of their team, Colin White (Patrol Team Supervisor in Security Services), won the Apprentice Supervisor Award for his exceptional support and management of his team of apprentices. Congratulations to Colin!
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Jordan had always been interested in design and print and
after GCSE’s had taken a Level 3 Extended Diploma in Graphic Design.
Jordan enjoyed the printing side and spotted the Apprenticeship with the
Reprographics Team and knew it was what she wanted to do.
Jordan’s role in Reprographics involves producing all sorts of printed
material such as postcards, wedding invitations, folded leaflets and has learnt
the art of bookbinding.
In a recent interview with Oxfordshire Apprenticeships Jordan said:
“It’s so nice to be given the opportunity to show how well an Apprenticeship can bring someone on and develop their skills. I have already learned so much.
Every day is different and all the machines do different things, I’ve loved
finding out all about what they can do.”
The team in Reprograhics have been supportive and
encouraging while she gets to grips with her role.
“They don’t look down on me if I
make a mistake, they say it’s a good way to learn! I’ve never been a confident
person, but my confidence has gone up by miles. It’s nice to feel part of
something, like there’s a purpose to what I’m doing.”
Jordan’s also had some words of advice for other young people considering whether
or not an Apprenticeship is for them:
“Don’t think you have to go to
uni to get somewhere. If you have a skill that you want to develop…an
apprenticeship gives you a good entrance to the working world. If you’re
confused about what to do – try something new, don’t rush and feel you have to
make a decision about what you want to do for the rest of your life.”
With thanks to Oxfordshire Apprenticeships for this article.
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Friday 9th December saw our annual University Apprenticeship Awards being held at the iconic Sheldonian Theatre for the first time.
Many attended our annual Awards Ceremony this year and due to our increase in new apprentices our award numbers grew too.
With thanks to Abingdon and Witney College, ATG Training, Activate Learning and Oxfordshire Apprenticeships our award winners were presented with £100 vouchers to spend in high street stores.
1 x New Apprentice Award - Grace Parsons
2 x Intermediate Apprenticeship Award - Adam Fisk and Lee Singleton
2 x Advanced Apprenticeship Award - Kyle Hallett and James King
We also congratulated Colin White for winning this years Mentor Award, Danielle Hoare for winning our 2016 Poster Competition and presented our graduates with their personal certificates.
Each year the Apprenticeships Manager chooses an individual that has made outstanding contribution to our Apprenticeships Scheme however this year it was dedicated to a team of people that have worked extremely hard to recruit a cohort of 8 new apprentices. Not only have they managed to successfully hire and train 8 new apprentices, they even took time to be trained themselves in order to provide their new recruits with such a great training course. Our Estates FM team have really helped our Apprenticeships scheme to progress even further and for that we thank them.
Over 130 staff, family and friends attended this years Ceremony to celebrate Apprenticeships. We hope to see numbers growing with each passing year and wish all of our apprentices, old or new, every luck for the future!
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The idea of an apprenticeship can have a lot of stigma attached to it, but there are plenty of examples of the great things you can get out of it.
Kyle Rix, Head Gardener at Lincoln College, started as an apprentice!
Photo credit: Kyle Rix, (holding a rather large Tetrapanax leaf)
Kyle knew that whilst degrees are a great thing to have, there are other ways to start your career than University.
After leaving school Kyle gained many great vocational qualifications and had a successful career travelling the world working in the security services industry. He realised that trying different things is important to give you experiences in life and an appreciation for the things that matter, and decided to live once more in his hometown of Oxford which was when he saw the advert for an apprentice gardener at Lincoln College.
Becoming Head Gardener has added to his list of outstanding achievements and allowed him to progress in another industry. Kyle believes that Lincoln College has become his 'home away from home' and he has found his forever job.
Photo courtesy: Kyle Rix, (Front Quad)
You would think that looking after 14 gardens (including sports grounds), the 150 year old Boston Ivy that needs trimming 4 times a year and the 200 year old London Plain that sheds mountains of fallen leaves each day in autumn, the ancient vines and nurturing the cutting of the 400 year old Mulberry Tree along with keeping the award winning quad lawns impeccable would be quite enough for Kyle and his team.
Photo courtesy: Kyle Rix, (something’s eating the roses)
But Kyle has also already helped the development of the gardens by reducing the use of chemicals by 75% through his research and implemented biological control such as nematodes. He has designed a roof-top garden to supply the college chef with vegetables, herbs and a beehive to sell college honey and introduced a wild meadow in the library quad. And Kyle’s imagination doesn’t stop there: this term he introduced the newest and youngest member of the college, Blue, a 3 month old Harris Hawk to keep the college’s pigeon problem under control.
Photo courtesy: Kyle Rix, (beautiful Blue, newest member of college, ready to get to work)
Photo courtesy: Kyle Rix (with Head Chef Richard and organic veg grown in the college gardens)
Kyle said about Apprenticeships: "So many young people are pressured to go to university, but working in an Oxford college is about bettering people, including the staff, it’s not just about academia. Lincoln College is like family"
Kyle’s past careers have all contributed to where he is today. He is involved in all aspects of college life, and he sees the gardens as being incorporated into the whole life of the college. His previous motor mechanical apprenticeship means he can look after all the mowers and machinery, and he has experience in catering which gives him an understanding of what the chef needs from the garden. Volunteer experience in welfare has provided him with an understanding to create gardens that provide cultural therapy for students and staff.
Photo courtesy: Kyle Rix (Rectors garden, digger fun)
Kyle will always have an apprentice or two in his team and says “horticulture is such a large job, you are constantly learning, you can never learn it all, but an apprenticeship gives you the base of direction.”
We asked Kyle what his top tip would be for anyone considering an apprenticeship. “Show your own genuine interest. You have got to be interested. It’s hard physical work, sometimes damp and miserable, but very rewarding. Constantly working against nature but it makes you humble as an individual.”
Check out more of Kyle’s amazing photos on Instagram @LincolnCollegeGardens
If anyone is interested in gaining a fantastic job just like Kyle then please find more information on our website at www.apprenticeships.ox.ac.uk
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