Inspired by an apprenticeship open day, nineteen-year-old, Heather McArthur quickly realised the benefits of a Modern Apprenticeship. Having successfully completed both her level 2 and 3 Modern Apprenticeship in Business Administration with West College Scotland and North Ayrshire Council, Heather tells us why she’d highly recommended this route to others:
“I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do when I left school, so when I learned that a Modern Apprenticeship would give me the chance to gain a qualification whist working and earning a wage, I knew that was the right route for me.
‘I really enjoyed the mix of college learning with on the job training. The fact that your learning about the work you’re doing made it a whole lot easier to write about, as you were able to connect the two and write about real life experiences. It’s a great way to learn.”
A few months into her Apprenticeship, Heather was offered full-time employment as a Clerical Officer with North Ayrshire Council, allowing her to continue with her MA qualification.
“At times it was difficult juggling both employment with study, but I was always given time to work on my coursework, so it was manageable.
My advice to anyone considering an apprenticeship, would be to go for it. It’s the best way to gain a qualification and work experience, giving you an instant advantage.
Everything I have learned is transferrable and can be used anywhere in any type of job. I’ve been lucky enough to gain full-time employment and I’m looking forward to progressing my career with North Ayrshire Council and exploring more aspects of business.”