Apprenticeships offer life-changing choices
“Apprentices are proud to be part of the University community and appreciate the professional learning environment we have here.”
Adam Shafiq is gaining on-the-job training in life safety compliance at the University alongside his brother, Abdullah
To mark National Apprenticeship Week 2024, we spoke to some of the many people to have benefitted from courses offered at Leeds, including colleagues at the University.
Apprenticeships can offer people a chance to change career or secure promotion and address national skill shortages at the same time.
They’re available in a wide range of sectors at the University, from health care and clinical practice to digital technology and workplace safety.
As well as being a training provider, the University also employs apprentices. Brothers Adam and Abdullah Shafiq are currently gaining on-the-job training in life safety compliance at Leeds.
Following COVID, the fire safety industry suffered from a severe skills shortage, so the University introduced a fast-track apprentice scheme.
The brothers started in February 2023 after a successful recruitment process, and alongside gaining work experience, they’re taking modules delivered by professional training provider Skill for Security.
Adam, 20, and Abdullah, 18, from Bradford, were selected from nearly 40 people responding to the advert.
Adam said: “I’ve been interested in the electrical industry since I was young, and was really interested when I saw a job in the fire and security sector on the University website. It’s such a critical role and I feel it creates great job prospects for me. I’m also proud to be part of such a prestigious institution.”
Specialist skills
Manager, Tawfiq Wahab, said: “These new recruits have been taking part in our life safety compliance activities, giving us the opportunity to develop specialist skills in-house and contributing to the industry. It feels like it’s a great step for them in achieving their goals.”
Professor Jeff Grabill, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Student Education, said: “Apprentices are proud to be part of the University community and appreciate the professional learning environment we have here, including our first-class libraries, assistive technologies and excellent academic support.
“An upskilled workforce helps businesses and services to develop and grow. Apprentices are known to increase productivity and service quality, so it benefits everyone. Helping our partners and local communities is a really important role for the University.”
Lydia Spence felt her true calling was to be a nurse in Accident and Emergency
Varied experience
Among those to have benefitted from the University’s role as a training provider is mum-of-three, Lydia Spence. She loved working in hospital as a care support worker but felt her true calling was to be a nurse in Accident and Emergency (A&E).
She wasn’t keen on pursuing the traditional route of a degree course, so when she spotted an opportunity on the NHS jobs website to remain working while studying a degree apprenticeship, she jumped at it.
The four-year BSc Registered Nurse course is accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), and is taught through academic learning at the University, along with placements in health and care settings. Apprentices are paid a wage and have their university fees covered by their employer.
“I wanted to stay at the hospital but also wanted to progress in my career,” Lydia said. “I wasn’t yet 30 and had many years ahead of me. I realised I wanted to have more responsibility and better pay.
“I hadn’t realised there was a different path to getting a degree, which involved being paid at the same time. The clinical experience we gained made a difference in our care. We came across as forward-thinking.”
Jonathan Harris enjoyed the blend of quality teaching and on-the-job experience during his apprenticeship
Adrenaline rush
Degree apprenticeships are a great route to develop your career, according to Jonathan Harris, who enjoyed the blend of quality teaching and on-the-job experience on the MSc Advanced Clinical Practitioner Apprenticeship.
Jonathan worked in A&E at St James’ Hospital for several years following his graduation from Leeds with an MSc in Nursing (Adult).
“I loved it,” said Jonathan. “There aren’t many other jobs where you get that sense of camaraderie. I had some of the best days of my career there. You never knew what was coming through the door. It was a real adrenaline rush at times.
“It’s so important getting real life experience. You can read every line in a textbook, but it doesn’t make you a good nurse.”
Jonathan was delighted he got a distinction in his apprenticeship degree. “I put my heart and soul into the training and got a lot out of it. I can’t recommend it enough.”
Impact
During 2021/22, 83 people completed their apprenticeships with Leeds as the training provider, which rose to 152 in 2022/23. After completing their course, 88.2% were still employed or had gained a more senior role within the sector.
Find out more about apprenticeships at Leeds.
Posted in: University newsStudent education