An apprenticeship appealed to me because it gave me the chance to join a growing organisation offering progression and opportunity.
The Rising Stars apprenticeship programme allowed me to learn and gain a nationally recognised qualification, the REC Level 2 in Recruitment Resourcing, and receive an income at the same time.
The programme is well-structured and my learning was continually supported by our Learning and Development department. This enabled me to really commit to my learning and my work experience which resulted in me gaining my qualification two months ahead of schedule!
I was expecting there to be lots of course work and writing essays but the learning aspect was conducted online which made it more accessible and easier to manage time wise. On average I spent four hours a week studying and I would recommend setting time aside each day for your learning.
The most valuable experience I gained from my apprenticeship was speaking to candidates from all over the world – it gave me real insight into different working practices and working cultures. I made my first placement within six months and this was for a Global Client Manager position. I still speak with this person regularly and I enjoy the rapport I have built with my candidates. There is a great sense of accomplishment when you find someone a position.
I also valued the support I received from my colleagues. BPS World have an “open-door” policy and there is always someone to ask for advice or get an opinion from.
The best advice I would give someone who is considering an apprenticeship is to make sure you identify an organisation that offers a clear pathway of education and opportunities. Find a company who are willing to invest in you and be prepared to give everything towards your apprenticeship as you will receive so much more from it.
BPS World won the Best Apprenticeship Programme in England award in 2016 while two employees landed the IRP Recruitment Apprentice of the Year award in 2016 and 2017 respectively. They also won the IRP Best People Development Business award in 2017 for their “Stars” Learning and Development Programme.
If you are interested in an apprenticeship with BPS World please contact Kirsty Packer on kirsty.packer@bps-world.com.
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