Apprentice Spotlight: Ellie Martin, GloucestershireLive Apprenticeship Awards 2020 Finalist

Celebrating outstanding apprentices at Gloucestershire College

The winners of the GloucestershireLive Apprenticeship Awards 2020 are soon to be announced during a virtual awards ceremony on Thursday 19th November 2020. Gloucestershire College is proud to share the achievements of our outstanding apprentices, with six finalists in the awards this year. We are delighted to shine a spotlight on our finalists to celebrate their incredible achievements and inspire others to pursue an apprenticeship. Congratulations to all our finalists, we have our fingers crossed for you on the big night!

Ellie Martin, Business Administration Apprentice at Pittville School

Tell us how does it feel to be a finalist?

I can’t believe I’ve been selected as a finalist in the Gloucestershire Apprenticeship Awards. This recognition is a fantastic achievement for all I have achieved throughout my apprenticeship and the support given by my employer and Gloucestershire College. 

Tell us how you would feel if you won ‘Apprentice of the Year 2020’?

If I won 'Apprentice of the Year 2020', I would feel extremely proud of myself to be the winner of my category. However, all the finalists are worthy and winners in my mind. I wish all the other finalist the best of luck for the Apprenticeship Awards!

Why do you think it’s important for apprenticeships to be recognised and celebrated in Gloucestershire?

It's massively important to recognise and celebrate apprenticeships in Gloucestershire! Promoting apprenticeships through apprentices themselves is the best way to show what opportunities are available. I will continue to share my experience with other young people to demonstrate how apprenticeships can be the best path of learning for your career as you choose which programme, which employer, which training provider and most of all you choose your own success and goals for the future. 

What made you choose to do an apprenticeship?

My choice to become an apprentice was after my discovery of apprenticeships in Year 10 at school. After exploring the opportunities, I made my decision to complete an apprenticeships after considering all my post 16 options. I knew that the apprenticeship route was the right one for my development and career. It took me 2.5 years to finish my apprenticeships as I completed both Level 2 and 3 Diplomas in Business and Administration at Pittville School.

What was your favourite thing about the apprenticeship?

The favourite thing about being an apprentice is that you are learning valuable skills and earning a wage at the same time. As an apprentice you gain a qualification as well as work experience. Choosing to become an apprentice means you are in charge of the best learning path for your career - you choose which apprenticeship programme, which employer, which training provider and most of all you choose your own success and goals for your future. That’s what I like about apprenticeships the most!

How did you find your employer/ apply for the apprenticeship?

I found my employer via the government website when searching for local apprenticeships in the business sector. I applied for my apprenticeship on the government website using the profile and CV I created. Then I completed an application to become an apprentice with Gloucestershire College as my training provider where I attended an interview on campus. Local apprenticeship vacancies can also be found on the Gloucestershire College website.

Tell us a bit about what your role as an apprentice involved.

My responsibilities as an apprentice included reception services such as helping visitors and dealing with enquiries, contributing to organising school events, updating the school’s website, taking bookings, maintaining stock supplies and much more. Earlier this year when schools closed due to Covid, I provided admin support to students who are self-isolating, including setting them up on Show My Homework or Office 365.

Tell us about what you are doing now your apprenticeship has finished.

When I finished my apprenticeship, I was offered a full time position with Pittville School as an administrator and been working full time through the pandemic as a key worker even when schools were shut. My apprenticeship has given me valuable skills and knowledge that prepares me for my future career and goals. I like working in the education sector because no day is the same!

Congratulations on being a finalist from everyone at Gloucestershire College, Ellie! Best of luck for the awards.

Gloucestershire College Apprentice Finalists in the GloucestershireLive Apprenticeship Awards 2020

• Carl Eustace, HR Apprentice at Superdry Plc in the Business, Administrative & Financial Services category
• Ella Russell, Business Administration Apprentice at Tewkesbury School in the Business, Administrative & Financial Services category
• Jack Chapman, Engineering Apprentice at Renishaw in the Engineering, Manufacturing, Energy & Electrical category
• Ellie Martin, Business Administration Apprentice at Pittville School in the Health, Wellbeing, Care & Education category
• Imogen Collins, Dental Nursing Apprentice at myFACE Dentistry and Facial Aesthetics in the Health, Wellbeing, Care & Education category
• Shannon Phillips, Customer Service apprentice at Truly Tailored Recruitment in the Hospitality, Travel & Customer Service category

Gloucestershire College is a proud finalist for Gloucestershire's Apprenticeship Training Provider of the Year 2020

Director of Apprenticeships and Employer Training, Julie Tegg, said: “We are delighted to be named a finalist in this year’s apprenticeship awards. Thanks to our industry-expert trainers, bespoke programmes accredited by leading bodies and new training suites created with employer input, we provide businesses with cutting-edge training solutions that are flexible and responsive to skills gaps. 

“As always, the success of our apprenticeship programmes lies largely with our dedicated Employer Training & Apprenticeships team, so I would like to thank them all once again for their hard work and look forward to celebrating with them on awards night!” 

Watch the virtual awards live on Thursday 19th November 2020

We’re looking forward to finding out the winners, congratulations to all the finalists! The event will be streamed live on YouTube from 6.30pm and hosted by Steve Knibbs from BBC Points West.