Will, 19, joined us in 2015 through an apprenticeship 
training program undertaken in our Bristol office. The scheme combines on and off the
job learning and development, enabling
Will to earn and learn, whilst we develop and grow.
Will attended sixth form for a short period, before deciding that this was not the route he wanted to go down, he was keen to learn but wanted a challenge and so researched into the idea of apprenticeship schemes.
Recruitment is a dynamic, fast-paced and highly competitive industry which can offer exciting career opportunities to the right candidates. We took Will on as an apprentice in October 2015, whilst he undertook his NVQ Diploma Level 2 in Business and Administration. As well as gaining a nationally recognized qualification, Will was able to gain invaluable experience in the world of recruitment. Working alongside a recruitment consultant on an allocated desk, Will’s main responsibilities were admin duties, writing CV’s and posting jobs.
On the job coaching and full classroom training enabled us to identify Will’s full potential, and so he was quickly progressed into a resourcer role. This role was candidate focused, enabling him to build upon his market knowledge and expertise. His primary focus was to source, select and directly contact candidates in line with our client vacancy requirements. Internal and external training has been provided throughout his whole journey with us and is continuous at all levels.
Will completed his apprenticeship within a year and has now moved into a full 360 role with Recruit UK at the age of 19. His development and growth has been just as important to us as it has been to him. Upon promotion to his new role Will has a realistic target earning for 2017 of £35,000, and will proceed to work towards his next promotion over the next 3-6 months. We’re proud to be a part of the apprenticeship scheme and we are dedicated to hiring driven and determined young adults, helping them reach their full potential.
What made you choose an apprenticeship?
I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do when I left school, but I went to college for six months and quickly decided it wasn’t the path for me. I realised that I was keen to start my career and start earning my own money, and so after researching my options I decided to enrol in an apprenticeship course. The apprenticeship scheme enabled me to start working straight away and earn a decent wage whilst I learnt key skills. I have been able to gain first-hand knowledge and experience on how the industry works, as well as gaining a nationally recognised qualification.
What do you like about working for Recruit UK?
Recruit UK are a great company to work for, the family office feel made me feel relaxed and confident from day one. I joined the company whilst undertaking a Business and Administration apprenticeship, however after learning more about recruitment roles and watching my colleagues drive to earn good money, I soon realised my ambition was to do the same. Recruit UK recognised my skills and ambitions and have nurtured me into a fulfilling recruitment position, in which I have been incentivised with a good basic pay and earnings of £35,000 + in my first year! It has been great being a part of a start-up business, there is a shared growth mentality and now I feel a part of it- I can be myself and everybody’s opinion counts!
What have you learnt from your apprenticeship?
My apprenticeship has given me life skills, such as time keeping, following a routine and developing a good work ethic, these skills are essential in any role and have set me up for my future. I have also learnt many employable skills through the help of my apprenticeship mentor and the Recruit UK training program, where I received on the job coaching and full classroom training to ensure I was fully prepared for the fast-paced recruitment experience. I have had to step out of my comfort zone of my close group of friends and interact and work closely with colleagues of all ages, generations and backgrounds. As well as making new friends, this has matured me as a person and pushed me into trying new things- I am more independent, confident and self-assured.
What would you do differently?
I initially chose an administration based apprenticeship that I thought suited me, Recruit UK made me realise this wasn’t the correct route for me by recognising and developing my personality. An apprenticeship is a good place to start if you are unsure what you want to do- you have full commitment from the company for at least 12 months and you avoid that fear factor of having to start a new job from the bottom! I personally found that schools are more concerned with grades than your personal development as an individual, I feel I have seen the other side of the fence with Recruit UK and they have definitely brought out the best in me. The company is also giving me time off next year to go travelling and experience the world, I feel happy going away knowing that my job will be waiting for me when I return. If you’re an activist and a productive person who gets excited about talking to people and trying new things, then an apprenticeship in recruitment would be a great choice for you.
What’s next for you? Are you interested in an Apprenticeship with us? Call Sam Oakes today on 01179 450 450 or email [email protected]
