What apprenticeship did you do, and when?
Between 2021 and 2024, I completed a Bachelor of Science with Honours (BSc Hons) Degree Apprenticeship, progressing from Level 4 fundamentals through to Level 6 practice. The specific Degree Apprenticeship that I undertook also had the integrated Association for Project Management (APM) Qualification.
What made you look into apprenticeships?
I joined Abri in early 2020 as an Operational Readiness Manager, just as the Covid-19 pandemic forced the UK into national lockdown. At that time, I was operating in a senior role within Operations, working closely with the centralised change team and supporting the organisation through significant transformation.
The pace and scale of change highlighted the growing need for leaders to have strong project management, change leadership, and reflective practice skills. I recognised that if I was to continue adding value as a leader, I needed to further strengthen my capability. A higher education apprenticeship offered a practical way to do this – enabling me to apply learning directly to real organisational challenges
Being self-aware of my learning style, I knew an apprenticeship would allow me to apply learning directly in the workplace while building reflective practice during a period of rapid change – both professionally and personally.
How has it helped you develop your career?
The apprenticeship played a significant role in my development as a leader. It accelerated my embedding into a new organisation and sector, strengthened my confidence in decision-making, and equipped me to lead through uncertainty.
By combining academic learning with day-to-day leadership practice, I was able to immediately apply new thinking, frameworks, and tools to complex challenges. It also supported my broader leadership development by strengthening my professional judgement, strategic thinking, and ability to lead change.
The programme also helped me build strong internal networks through the support of peers, colleagues, and mentors.
How did you find doing an apprenticeship alongside your role?
Balancing a senior role alongside assignment deadlines was challenging. Balancing leadership responsibilities with academic deadlines required discipline, prioritisation, and resilience. There were times when balancing work, life, and study was difficult. I went into the apprenticeship wanting to learn as much as possible, and in hindsight I could probably have scaled back at points. However, I’m incredibly proud of what I achieved and ultimately graduated with a First Class degree, which made the effort worthwhile.
Would you recommend doing an apprenticeship, and if so, why?
Absolutely. Apprenticeships provide a structured opportunity to reflect on practice, embed learning in real time, and connect with peers across different organisations and sectors. They also provide access to additional professional resources, such as memberships of professional bodies, which further support ongoing development.
You’re now looking to recruit an apprentice to your team – why is that something you’d like to do?
I was incredibly well supported throughout my apprenticeship by my employer and, specifically, my line manager, who created space for learning, and encouraged and challenged me to apply new skills in my role. That support was key to my success and my motivation, especially when topics or balancing felt challenging.
As a leader, I now want to create the same environment for others – developing future talent, embedding learning into everyday work, and ensuring that new knowledge continues to strengthen the organisation. Supporting apprentices is not just about development; it’s about building sustainable capability and skills for the future.