Celebrating National Apprenticeship Week at Leeds
“I’d recommend an apprenticeship to anyone looking for a change of career or professional development.”
This is the advice of Luke Haywood, who works in IT at the University and is a Digital Apprenticeship in Application Support.
He appears in a new Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport video extolling the virtues of combining work with part-time study.
Its release has been designed to coincide with National Apprenticeship Week 2020 – the annual, Government-run initiative that celebrates the impact of apprenticeships on individuals, employers and the economy.
Leeds offers a range of Higher Apprenticeships and Degree Apprenticeships. These are developed in partnership with businesses and organisations to meet their needs, while ensuring our rigorous standards of high quality teaching are maintained.
Students and staff can combine working with part-time study at Leeds and receive a University qualification on successful completion of their studies.
Luke, Application Support Analyst (Education Services), was an arts graduate working on the IT Service Desk when the opportunity to apply for a digital degree apprenticeship presented itself.
The Application Support post included a Professional Learning Programme (PLP). This meant that Luke learnt on the job, but also in a professional learning environment that will ultimately result in him earning a degree.
Luke said: “It was really worthwhile doing the apprenticeship. It helps you, your employer, and it will make a difference to your career.
“I’d never done an official computing degree. I was working on the IT Service Desk and this apprenticeship presented me with a chance to develop skills and my career further.
“Combining work and study meant you can learn the theory and then put it directly into practice, which is a unique opportunity. It also taught me some invaluable time management skills.
“I’d recommend an apprenticeship to anyone looking for a change of career or professional development.”
The video’s appearance on Twitter sparked praise from a number of colleagues at Leeds, including Professor Neil Morris, Dean of Digital Education.
He said: “Luke works in the IT Service and supports our Mediasite system, which provides audio-video recording resources to our students, and does a fantastic job!
“Great to see work-based apprenticeships having such a positive impact on career development.”
Visit the apprenticeships webpage for further information about the apprenticeship schemes offered by the University.
Posted in: Student educationUniversity news