National Apprenticeship Week 2024

National Apprenticeship Week 2024

As it’s National Apprenticeship Week 2024, we wanted to tell you about the apprenticeship scheme at Local Partnerships.

Our apprentice Chinwe

Today, we’re hearing from Chinwe Oyo. Chinwe​ joined Local Partnerships on 24 October 2022 as a Business Administration Apprentice.

“More than 12 months ago, I chose to do an apprenticeship with Local Partnerships, as it was an opportunity to learn invaluable skills, network and gain a qualification. The prospect of contributing towards Local Partnerships purpose was one that really spoke to me. My apprenticeship has given me the ability to combine the practical and academic, by developing problem-solving skills and continually enhancing my forward-thinking and communicative mindset.

It has been an exciting, challenging and knowledgeable ride. For the first six months, I sat within the Operational support officers team building my knowledge in administrative processes that support the business units and their projects, such as contract development, project management and data tasks. This experience was invaluable as I was able to enhance my analytical and numerical skills.

Over the following six months I spent time supporting IT services, technical support and logistical requirements for the Local Partnerships team.

The best piece of advice I received in this role was to make it my own, granting me the opportunity to rethink and restructure the way in which colleagues would interact with Local Partnerships IT Op’s systems.

This challenging but inspiring time allowed me to be at the very centre of Local Partnerships and to liaise confidently with, internal and external stakeholders, successfully helping with a range of technical problems. A wonderful experience, which has given me the confidence to move forward in a career I had never considered before.

Throughout my apprenticeship, I have been treated like a valued and trusted member of the team, given real responsibility. I have been supported immeasurably by my colleagues, there was a real encouragement from across the whole team to reach out and get involved in project support activities.

When I reflect on the past year, I am amazed at how my confidence has grown both professionally and personally and the many successes I have had as an apprentice. I earned a Distinction in my Level 3 Business Administration exams and I was awarded ‘Employee of the month’ in October 2023.

I think, that it is amazing, that at a junior level, I was recognised as a highly valued member of the team, a testament to the encouraging environment being fostered at Local Partnerships.

Now that my apprenticeship is over, I am excited to continue building my future career to help collectively play a pivotal role in shaping society for good.”

More about  National Apprenticeship Week 2024

The apprenticeship scheme at Local Partnerships is in it’s fifth year with one of our first year apprentices, Millie, now a full time finance assistant.

For opportunities within Local Partnerships, please take a look at our latest vacancies.