GLA's young apprentices speak out

• Hannah Hawkins
• Harry Hazell

Hannah Hawkins

People think that you have to go to university to get a decent career, but that’s not true. Like many other young people, I found out university wasn’t for me. 

Before becoming an apprentice, I’d had two part-time jobs, one as a carer and before that, as an office worker at a school. After applying for a number of jobs and getting turned down due to a lack of experience, I thought about apprenticeships. I applied at: http://apprenticeships.org.uk and much to my delight, was granted an interview! 

The interview process was not at all what I had expected. We had to work in a team. I found it unnerving at first, but grew into it, and found it quite relaxing in all honesty. The people interviewing me helped me feel comfortable and at ease throughout.

I currently work in External Relations at the Greater London Authority and help plan events for the London Assembly. We recently did a remembrance service and I helped to organise a Holocaust Memorial event. I’m getting more opportunities to progress in this line of work and am involved in upcoming events such as a grassroots sports event and a reception for the London Assembly.

The experience I have gained here has been monumental in my development and the stuff I have learned will be valuable throughout my life. The skills I have picked up will be useful in many other areas of work.

I believe confidence is vital if you’re going to be a successful individual, and I have gained so much through the GLA offering me this opportunity to be an apprentice. I have also developed as a person. Before this chance I was really timid but that is no longer the case.

I feel that the future is bright. You just have to think for yourself, and see that there are other opportunities beyond university out there.  You might find that like me, an apprenticeship might suit you more. What all of us young people want at the end of the day is knowledge, experience and of course, money. An apprenticeship offers all three. 

Harry Hazell

I joined the GLA in May/June last year as a web apprentice in the Children and Young People’s Unit. Before doing my Level 2 Apprenticeship, I was at a sixth form college studying BTEC Business and BTEC IT Practitioners courses. I finished with Distinctions (A at ‘A’ Level equivalent) and decided I wanted to do an apprenticeship.

I chose an Apprenticeship as I knew it would suit me best. I would be able to work while gaining a nationally recognised qualification. I found out about the GLA’s Apprenticeship scheme on the National Apprenticeships Service website. I was looking for opportunities in London and the GLA’s scheme came up.

Before my interview to be the GLA’s web apprentice, I was very nervous. I made sure I knew all about what the Mayor of London and GLA group is responsible for. This made it easy for me to relate my answers to the Mayor’s role and what the GLA does for young Londoners in particular. Seeing a young member of the Mayor’s Peer Outreach Workers on the interview panel made me feel at ease too.

My role in the Children’s and Young People’s team is to produce content for the GLA’s website, that shows young Londoners what improvements the Mayor is making on their behalf.  I also produce and edit content that highlights the engagement across London from the Mayor’s 40-strong Peer Outreach Workers (15-25 year olds) and 20-strong Lynk Up Crew (8-15 year olds).

After my apprenticeship is over, I hope to gain a full time job here at the GLA. This would be great as I love the environment here and enjoy the work too.  The Apprenticeship has also given me confidence and belief that if I work for something I can achieve it. It’s also made me think about youth work – something I never thought I’d go into!

If you're at school, and don’t know what to do it’s worth looking into. I think to experience working life is better than having a gap year. With an Apprenticeship you earn quite a good wage, and get the skills as well as the knowledge from studying. They don’t tell you that.

I think apprenticeships are great.