Tell us about yourself…

Hi, my name is Ellie! When I left school I did a year at college and decided I would prefer to learn ‘on the job’. I think success is everyone’s aim in life. There is no limit!

When did you join Every?

I joined Every as an apprentice on the 3rd of September 2018 as a very young 17 year old.

What prompted you to seek out an apprenticeship?

The whole having a job but still being in education was a really strong decider for me. I knew I didn’t have the skills I wanted but also wanted to be in work. So deciding to do both was a no brainer.

Were you always set on doing an apprenticeship over the more traditional path?

I had never been able to make my mind up as to whether I wanted to go uni, and that to me was enough to realise I maybe wasn’t that into it. I am still getting the same skills as someone in university but I am also getting experience in the industry.

How did you find things when you first started with Every?

Having only just turned 17 when I started at Every it was a huge step out of my comfort zone, but I loved it. I feel I have matured a lot since being here. I love the job I’m doing and the skills I am developing through attending college once a fortnight.

What does your apprenticeship involve?

I go to college every other week, for one morning. This works for me as I prefer to do my work on my own and hand it in. This also means I have more time in the Every office to learn and develop other skills.

I am working on a business qualification, and I use a lot of the skills that I have learnt from college in my day-to-day work, so it has definitely been beneficial. Having been at college has also given my better ideas on how to work through issues alone, and not be reliant on others to have time to work with me.

How has your apprenticeship changed your life?

I have matured a lot faster than I think I would have having not jumped into the world of work. It has been something of a wake up to call about the ‘real world’, and I’ve learnt a lot of things that you don’t get taught at school. I have realised that I can handle pressure and responsibility well. The biggest thing for me is realising that just going for it and having the confidence to put yourself out there has its benefits.

What do you enjoy about your apprenticeship?

I love being at work, having a routine and being able to develop new skills, as well as being able to engage with customers and see my hard work actually benefitting other people. And being paid while learning is also a nice bonus, haha!

What’s been your biggest achievement at Every so far?

I don’t think I’ve really had just one major achievement – I’m just so proud of how far I have come since I started. I am so much more confident within myself and have learnt things that, had I not started my apprenticeship with Every, I probably never would have discovered.

What do most people get wrong about apprenticeships?

I think a common misconception of apprentices is that we are all useless teenagers. I don’t agree with that, I work really hard and have grown so much in the time I have worked at Every. Apprentices are capable of handling more responsibility than we are given credit for!

What piece of advice would you give someone starting an apprenticeship today?

Go for it! It is 100% the best decision I ever made and I can not stress enough how worthwhile it is. If you don’t need to have a degree to be in the industry you want, get an apprenticeship. You will learn more on the job than you realise.

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