As the Apprenticeship Coordinator at Abri, Bobbi specialises in supporting apprentices in our repair and maintenance teams.
We chatted to Bobbi about apprenticeships at Abri and asked her about some of our most frequently asked questions.
What apprenticeships does Abri offer?
There’s so many different types of apprenticeships in different industries. And many of these programmes now offer degrees or degree level qualifications at the end of them. So they’re worth considering if you’re deciding between university and an apprenticeship. And there’s the added bonus that when you finish your course, not only will you have degree level qualifications, but you’ll also have the right industry experience, which will work in your favour when job hunting. Not to mention that you won’t have any student debts to pay off.
Because we do so much at Abri, from building homes to community investment and employment support, there are plenty of options for young people to start a career here with us.
- As a housing provider, we naturally have a range of trade apprenticeships such as becoming an apprentice electrician, gas engineer, carpenter or a plumber – to name just a few.
- Opportunities in other areas of the business include business analysis, business admin, graphic design, management, employment support and chefs, people development and so much more.
And that’s not all. Existing colleagues can also do apprenticeships too, to help them develop and progress in their careers, or even to help with a change in career direction.
One of our key values at Abri is ‘always being curious’: this is all about personal development, trying new things, seeking different points of view. That’s why apprentices at Abri also get the opportunity to experience different parts of the business. If you’re working in trades as an apprentice, you’ll get the opportunity to work across different trade areas, and you’ll also get a taste of how some of our other business areas work, such as our customer service, scheduling and housing teams. If you’re working in an office based role, you can ask to shadow other teams in the business to get an understanding of what they do.
What are the key skills, behaviours or characteristics you look for when appointing an apprentice/employee?
The great thing about an apprenticeship is that it’s an opportunity to gain skills and experience as you learn. That’s why at Abri we’re less concerned about your experience, or what you’ve studied at school and college, but instead we’re looking for passionate people that share our values. We’re all about people who can embrace possibility and want to make a difference to our world and who are curious about the ways they can improve themselves and our organisation. We’re looking for people who see the value in achieving together and openly share their ideas and welcome the ideas of others.
So, if you share our values and want to make a real difference in the world, then Abri is the place for you.
What does an apprentice do in a typical day?
For one of our trade apprentices, a typical day might start of by meeting their mentor and travelling together to their site. Depending what stage of their apprenticeship journey they are at – they might be set tasks by their mentor or be able to independently manage their workload for their day. There will be some tasks that our apprentices can do with their eyes closed, but for other tasks, they will have more support from a mentor. For example, if they’ve recently learnt about fitting a door at college, they’ll put this theory into practice under close guidance – and then snap a few pics for their portfolios.
At least 20% of an apprentice’s time is spent working on ‘off the job learning’ – this can include day or block release for training at a college or local provider, other training days and workshops, learning from a mentor, shadowing and industry visits.
What advice would you give to someone looking to develop a career in at Abri?
My one piece of advice I’d give to a young person looking to develop a career with Abri is to show us who you really are and what you’re about. As an organisation that prides itself on our values, we’re looking for individuals who do the same. If you’re interested in working for Abri, there’ll be opportunities to come and chat to us at career fairs and other events. So pop along, say hello and get to know what we’re all about!
What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about their future?
My top piece of advice for anyone who is thinking about creating an amazing future for themselves is to really explore all possibilities and don’t be afraid to try something new. Even if you’ve always had a certain plan in mind, it’s never too late to think about what else is out there. And that’s why apprenticeships are so great – the majority of require no previous learning, skills or experience – so they really are open to anyone!
What personal development is available to apprentices at Abri?
Our work doesn’t stop once you join us as an apprentice. We’re passionate about providing an environment and the support that enables our apprentices to thrive! We’ve got lots of plans including a trade apprentice rotation programme, relaunching our mentoring scheme and more.
When are you recruiting?
We’re looking to significantly grow the number of trade apprentices we have, starting with a big recruitment drive this Spring, ready for September starts. We’re keen to engage with a diverse range of candidates as we know how important a diverse workforce is. Keep an eye out for us as we’ll be attending recruitment fairs and events in our local communities to promote our vacancies!
