"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!”

By Ania Stanisz 

“If you can tell someone that you work at Oxford University, it’s quite a cool thing to say.”

Alex started her Apprenticeship in January, having graduated from the City of Oxford College and passed her A-levels. She’s doing Level 2 Diploma & Level 3 Diploma in Business and Administration at the Department of Engineering Science at the University of Oxford.

We visited her today and here’s what she says about her Apprenticeship!

If you’re considering an alternative to Uni, an Apprenticeship is the route to take! Alex didn’t want to go to Uni, because she didn’t know precisely what route she wanted to go down career-wise. But it was difficult for her to find a job because she didn’t have any experience. “My dad always said: ‘Go for an Apprenticeship, because you’ll gain qualification as well as your job. Maybe the money will be less, but in the long run you’re going to get more stuff out of it’”.

Deciding on an Apprenticeship may require not looking to other people. “I’m the only one in my friendship group that is an Apprentice.” But you can get a lot in return: “I think you get a satisfaction when you do a job well and you get a praise for it. Just self-achievement as well and knowing that you’ve done something well.”

Worried it may be stiff and scary? Not at all! “I expected that it would be so professional and proper, but in fact everyone’s so laid back in here. We have a lot of laughs and everyone at the whole University is just so nice”.