Secretariat apprenticeship case study: Lucienne

• Team: Secretariat
• After her apprenticeship: Lucienne completed a GLA Higher Apprenticeship programme and took up a role in the London Assembly Secretariat as a Project Officer.

Why did you want to do an apprenticeship at City Hall?

To be completely honest, I had never really heard/ thought about doing an apprenticeship – I thought the only apprenticeships there were for carpenters and plumbers - but I had been out of work for about 2 years so really just needed/wanted a job. The job description suited the type of work I was looking for too which was a bonus!

How did you hear about the vacancy?

At the time I was attending a young mothers’ youth group every week and our youth worker knew I was desperate to go back to work. She knew that I wanted an office style, 9 – 5 job so she sent me the advert when it was forwarded to her. I had to rush because the applications closed that day!

What were your day-to-day responsibilities as an apprentice?

My day to day responsibilities were mainly administrative and included:

• Managing both the Executive Director (Secretariat) and Monitoring Officer’s diary

• Organising key meetings with various stakeholders, preparing and distributing documentation such as agendas and minutes for meetings

• Liaising with both internal and external stakeholders on behalf of the Executive Director

• Acting as a first point of contact for those wishing to contact the Executive Director

• Supporting the Executive Director in his capacity as Deputy Greater London Returning Officer for the 2016 Elections

• Supporting the Monitoring Officer with the processing, updating and reporting of the Gifts and Hospitality register and Register of Interests for the GLA

What did you find most useful? How have you used this in your current job?

Having a pool of support around me which I could tap into - my line manager, other colleagues and the other apprentices. I have a query now or need something done which requires the help of a different department there is usually someone that I know who I can go to.

What did you find challenging about your apprenticeship?

Meeting new people – I am quite shy really so found the idea of joining a team of strangers quite scary! I feel like my confidence has gone up since being at the GLA.

What was the most inspiring thing that happened during your apprenticeship?

Seeing other apprentices in my cohort secure jobs; I was so happy and weirdly proud of them! But it also helped to give me the push I needed to start looking for post-apprenticeship opportunities myself.

Also watching the 2016 Mayoral Elections this year on TV at home – I had been part of some initial meetings during 2014 when I supported the Executive Director in his role as Deputy Greater London Returning Officer. It made me appreciate all the hard work which goes on in the background of many of the wonderful things the GLA do. I felt proud to have been part of it and proud to be part of the GLA.

What were you doing before your apprenticeship here?

I had been a stay-at-home mum for about 2 years and had then been lucky enough to get a volunteer role in the Community Engagement Team and my local council 3 months before the apprenticeship advert came out. Before going on maternity leave I had worked in the ‘baby room’ of a local nursery school as I wanted to be a nursery assistant, studying early years child development at college after finishing my A-Levels.

What did you find most useful about the apprenticeship?

Being able to learn on the job. If I had started in a non-apprentice role, I may have found it a bit daunting to ask questions. As an apprentice I wasn’t expected to have all the answers which made me more confident to ask questions, and in the end it meant that I learnt a great deal more and faster. The support from the rest of the cohort was invaluable too!

What tips would you give to future applicants?

Get stuck in and take on every opportunity you can - if other teams around the building are looking for extra support for an event for instance, do it! You get to have a better, more holistic understanding of the GLA and its various teams, meet new people and build useful working relationships.

Also take advantage of the additional learning offer – from career coaching to Google Analytics training to mock interviews – it’s all really useful!