I wanted to become an apprentice because I wanted to go into a different sector, and I had realised that my skills and knowledge were limited. I knew that becoming an apprentice would open the door to many opportunities and would bring out more skills within me.
I knew I wanted to work full time rather than go to college or university, so an apprenticeship was ideal for me. I loved that fact that I was able to learn and do my course while working and putting those teachings into practice every day.
Since starting at TH March, I’ve gone from being a Business Admin apprentice to being Senior Administrator for our Birmingham Office! The apprenticeship really opened my eyes to how interesting the insurance industry is, as this was something I’d never considered previous to my employment at TH March. Looking back, I’m so glad that I got into the industry via this route, as this job has so many different aspects and can get quite fast paced – so I was able to learn from the beginning, rather than get thrown in at the deep end!
As I had range of responsibilities, my day was never the same. I would start by daily tasks such as filing and dealing with entries in the diary system and then throughout the day, I was given different tasks and training to go along side with it.
Since then, so much has changed. My role is a lot more digital based – rather than filing paper documents, it’s all stored electronically on our computers. This has made everything so much easier!
Compared to back then, my day involves a lot more client interaction – and I’m in a position now where I can comfortably advise clients, whereas before I would have to pass over the same queries to the more senior staff.
As my role is office based, the pandemic has changed my experience massively. I have had to adjust and adapt to the times which meant working from home. It was a challenge as everything I needed e.g., files and office equipment were located in the office, but I learnt how to complete tasks from home. I also completed my apprenticeship while being in the pandemic so that was a great achievement for me.
There are a number of things that I enjoy my role, one of them being that I am always learning new things. There is always room for more knowledge and development, this is very motivating for me as TH March encourage progression within roles. My team are very helpful, and we get along very well, the positive environment contributes to a smoothly running work force and I am able to go to my colleagues when I face problems or when I need some input on something.
Sonya from 5 years ago was spot on, and it’s still the same. Even after the apprenticeship, my team were still so supportive and are happy to help even to this day!
This past year, thanks to lots of hard work from myself, and sponsorship from TH March, I was able to gain my CII qualification, and today I’m still offered opportunities to train and learn in order to further my career, and to help our clients to the best of my ability.
I would advise people who are considering the apprentice route to just simply…go for it! It can be scary getting out of your comfort zone but by doing so, you will see the benefits as you go along and will be more confident in different things. I think apprenticeships are an incredible opportunity, it really will kick start your career. Be sure to organise your time efficiently between working for the company and your apprenticeship work, as sometimes deadlines will be challenging. Don’t be afraid to ask questions when you are unsure, if you need help with anything or if you prefer to be taught something a different way.
I’d still say that anyone considering an apprenticeship should jump at the opportunity! I did the same six years ago, and it springboarded me into a successful insurance career with amazing friends and a great support network. From the start I had a full-time income – which most people in education and learning a career can’t say. I’m so fortunate to be where I am now – so if you’re thinking about it, definitely go for it!
At TH March we take pride that we have been offering apprenticeships for twenty years, and that we have received the Silver accreditation for the We Invest in Apprentices framework.
If Sonya’s story has inspired you in any way – you can follow this link to find out more about TH March as an apprenticeship provider: https://www.thmarch.co.uk/careers/apprenticeship-scheme/
Or to see our current vacancies, click here: https://www.thmarch.co.uk/careers/job-vacancies/