We are thrilled to announce that for the second year running, the University of Oxford has placed within the Top 50 for Rate My Apprenticeship’s Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers Table 2020-21! 

We are really proud of this achievement - particularly as the table is based solely on honest reviews from some of our fantastic apprentices across all departments and divisions. Our apprentices contribute so much and we are really pleased that they see the University as one of the top Apprenticeship employers.

The Rate My Apprenticeship awards celebrate the outstanding achievements of apprentices, schools & colleges, employers and training providers in Apprenticeships. To find out more, visit: https://www.ratemyapprenticeshipawards.co.uk/

During this time of uncertainty, we know a lot of people's job roles have changed in line with the situations they are in. For many of our apprentices, this can be especially daunting, as they may be new into their post or finding it difficult to juggle extra responsibilities with adapted online Apprenticeship learning.

We know just how important our apprentices across the University are, and the importance of the roles they play. Now we want to share some of their inspiring stories with you!

Ellie Knight, Finance Division

"Our newest apprentice, Ellie Knight, has experienced a rather unusual start to her Business Administration Apprenticeship. Ellie started her apprenticeship with us on Monday 30 March 2020 – one week into lockdown. We’ve had to work out how to set Ellie up to work and learn entirely remotely. This has been an interesting challenge which Ellie has dealt with remarkably well. Ellie and I have only ever met in person once, at interview. All of our contact since Ellie started in post has been virtual – email, Teams etc.

Despite this challenging start, Ellie has already taken on real responsibility within the Finance Division and has integrated incredibly well into our team."

    - Rebecca Waterman, Deputy Head of Administration

We asked Ellie a few questions about her Apprenticeship...

What Apprenticeship have you started and what made you go for this role?

I started a business administration apprenticeship on the 30th of March (1 week into lockdown). There are a few reasons for wanting this role, to gain experience in the workplace, learn new skills, potentially get a permanent job but also because I wanted to find something I could get stuck into and enjoy.

What was your initial reaction to being told you would have to work from home (wfh) in your new job?

Being told I would have to start this new apprenticeship from home was very weird. I could’ve never imagined it! I had prepared myself for my first day and had bought work clothes and I was quite disheartened to find out I won’t be starting in the office.

What did you do in your first day/week?

In my first week, I set up my emails and got started on other university systems with help from my manager. It was quite a challenge and after a few calls to IT, I mostly had everything necessary set up.

Are you enjoying wfh? Have there been many challenges?

In terms of working from home, it is not what I was expecting at all. Some days I really like it and don’t mind it but other days it would be nice to have some human interaction! It has brought its challenges. Firstly, I was working on a Macbook to start with and the university systems tend to work a lot better with windows. Moreover, macs can be very problematic and a lot of hassle. Also, working at home with 3 people sat at the dining table is far from ideal.

Are you looking forward to going into the offices for the first time and meeting everyone properly?

Millie Thompson, Graduate Accommodation

We recently caught up with former apprentice (& creator of this blog!) Sophie Bebb, to find out what she's been up to since her Apprenticeship with Said Business School at the University of Oxford.

Find out more about our Apprenticeships, visit the University of Oxford Apprenticeships page.

The winner of our Training Provider Individual award went to... Gemma Burgess!

Claire Rees from OUP (left) presenting the award to Gemma Burgess (right)

We asked Gemma a few questions about her role and reaction to winning this award.

1) What is your role? How does it relate to our apprentices?

My role at Abingdon and Witney College is Quality Lead for the Work Based Learning Team. I work with all of the Employer Services team from recruitment and business development to delivery of apprenticeships to ensure that we provide the highest quality provision to all of our apprentices. Within my role I volunteered to support and assess apprentices at the University who are undertaking the Level 5 Operational/Departmental Manager apprenticeship.

2)  Can you describe some benefits of undertaking Apprenticeship based training?

As a former accountancy apprentice myself I truly believe that an apprenticeship based training programme really does open doors and lead to numerous career progression opportunities. I certainly wouldn’t be where I am now if I hadn’t been given the opportunity. An apprenticeship not only provides knowledge within the subject area related to the role but it also develops transferable skills and behaviours that are relevant to any employment. Apprenticeship training is an excellent way to gather knowledge both on and off the job that allows individuals to learn and earn at the same time.

3) What was your reaction to winning your award?

I was so pleased to have been shortlisted as a finalist with two of my colleagues that it really was a surprise to win, as assessing is only a small element to my job role, even though this is what I have been doing for over 10 years. I am keen to support others to help them achieve their goals and it was great for the apprentices to recognise this through the nominations.


4) What would you recommend to anyone else considering an Apprenticeship/taking on an apprentice?

As an employer – take on an apprentice, they’re keen to learn and extremely hard working! As a potential apprentice – you will learn so much on this journey, embrace it! An apprenticeship has so many benefits to an employer as well as the apprentice themselves. It’s hard work for both parties and a big commitment, but a completely beneficial process.

Finalists for Training Provider Individual Award

With over 100 apprentices across the University in all 78 departments, studying over 26 varying Apprenticeship courses, what happens when there is a national pandemic and we are all told to work from home (WFH) if we can?

Well, we've asked a few of our apprentices to share their WFH set up with us, explaining how they are continuing with work. Read on for some of their top tips...

Teya Agnese

Teya's WFH set-up

How, as an Apprentice Clinical Trial Support Officer studying a Level 3 Business Admin course, have I adapted to working from home throughout this pandemic, and what do I do to stay motivated?

Firstly, it’s really useful to have a work space set up in a quiet location where you can put your laptop (and monitors if you have them), and bring that work environment feeling into the space. You may be tempted to work from your sofa, or whilst laying in bed, but these locations imply connotations intended for relaxation. Whereas, having a space set up like your desk would be at your workplace will help to keep you motivated throughout the day, minimising potential distractions.

My work is administration and data entry based, so luckily my job role is easily adaptable to the ‘work from home life.’ The only difference is that I am unable to print off forms that I have entered and file them. So, I make sure to keep a track of what I have done and as a result the task can be completed when I return to the office. I also dedicate every Friday to completing coursework for my Apprenticeship.

Similarly, I like to start each day by writing out a to-do list of what I need to get done. I mix up smaller and larger tasks throughout the day to ensure my day is varied and interesting, ticking them off as I go (which is certainly rewarding) and makes you feel really accomplished by the end of the day.

Something that I would say is KEY whilst working from home is to keep up communication with your team (along with friends and family). A really valuable tool that we have been using is ‘Microsoft Teams.’

It is very beneficial to talk to your team: don’t be afraid to go to them with any questions you may have, ask or suggest any motivation techniques, or even if it’s for an update or a chat. Whilst working from home, it is easy for your independence to take over, which is a valuable skill when sitting and completing tasks from home, but it is really useful to take a few moments each day to catch-up with members of your team to maintain your team building skills and connections. I find that this too adds structure to my day, giving me something to look forward to and sets me tasks that fuel my motivation. Also, just being able to see the lovely smiling faces of your colleagues can really lift your mood and brighten your day.

Whilst working from home, it can be hard to keep concentration levels up, or you can find yourself working continuously for hours. It is important to have a good balance of work and break times.

A good technique that our team discussed, and that I have personally implemented into my routine, to help us stay motivated whilst working from home is one called the ‘Marinara/ Pomodoro Custom Timer.’ This is a custom Pomodoro-style timer which you can modify to fit your daily routine. You set time segments within 1 hour that fit your workflow. For instance, you can set your timer so that you work solidly for 50 minutes, and then take a 10 minute break to have a coffee and relax your mind. Then repeat – ensuring that you still take your lunch break. This method is also good if you want to improve your time management skills and productivity.

Stay safe everyone and hopefully we will return to our normal working conditions soon. :)

Harriet Goss

Harriet's WFH set-up

During these strange and uncertain times in our lives, we’re all facing a variety of challenges and difficulties whilst working from the comfort of our own homes.

Whether working, studying or simply at a loss for what to do; it’s vital to set yourself a strict schedule…and stick to it!

I know the temptation to lounge in bed until midday can be very compelling, but it’s important to set yourself a daily routine in order to stay as productive and positive as possible.

Like the rest of the world, I also find myself working from my bedroom (not bed) – which is strange and definitely a new learning curve for me. At the time I’m writing this, I’ve been “social distancing”/working from home for a mere 10 days now. Believe me when I tell you - I did not have a routine set down from day 1! This stuff takes time – so feel free to trial and error it.

Below is an example of the schedule I’ve set myself in order to keep on top of my workload. You’ll see I’ve also allocated personal time for my own well-being (be it going for a run or simply having a coffee with my family). This is important! We may be in this situation for a little while, so taking a little time for yourself is crucial.

My routine:
7.30am - Wake up and have breakfast/get ready for the day
8.30am – Turn on computer and start work for the day
9.30am – Daily team meeting/check-in Zoom call
10.30am – Tea/coffee break
12pm – Lunch break (during this time I like to go for a walk or a run and get some much-needed Vitamin D )
1pm – Work on my apprentice portfolio
2.30pm – Tea/coffee break
4.30pm – Finish work for the day
REST OF DAY – Down time, dinner and bed

Obviously, days can vary – so don’t feel like those timings are set in stone. Some days you may have a lot more down time than usual, and others you may be up to your eyeballs in emails. It’s a strange time for us all, but if you can shape your days as much as possible– soon it’ll become a routine. We all need a bit of structure at this moment in time, so why not make a conscious effort to structure your day?

Daniela Cazan

Daniela Cazan is a Digital Marketing apprentice at the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship, Saïd Business School. We ask Daniela to answer a Q&A with us on what she has found useful working from home, over the past month.