This week we are celebrating National Apprenticeship Week!
In November 2023, staff members made St Mary's history as the first ever cohort to join the St Mary's Staff Apprenticeships.
Four Apprenticeships were launched - Level 3 Team Leader, Level 5 Departmental/ Operations Manager, Level 5 Coaching and Level 7 Senior Leader. 24 staff members of varying grades across various departments throughout the University were inducted onto the Apprenticeship programmes.
The results of the Staff Engagement Survey indicated that career development was important to colleagues. The introduction of these apprenticeships aims to foster continuous learning and development among our workforce while providing hands-on learning and career development opportunities.
St Mary's commemorates National Apprenticeship Week, by celebrating our Learners who have invested their time, energy, and commitment to personal and professional development through the Apprenticeship programme. Reflecting on their experiences within the first few months of enrolment, participants shared insights into the transformative impact of the Apprenticeship journey:
"I’m really enjoying the Level 3 Apprenticeship in Leadership, as I’ve been able to develop my knowledge and understanding of emotional intelligence as well as different leadership styles. It has also given me the time to reflect on my professional goals and identify areas for improvement. Finally, it has provided the opportunity for me to take time away from my day-to-day duties and focus on my professional development through ‘off-the-job training’! "- Rachel Stanley, Student Recruitment Officer Schools and Colleges | Team Leader Apprenticeship
"I am enjoying learning more about coaching. I had some awareness of coaching tools and techniques through my role in HR but the course is providing me with a structured approach to learning and a framework for coaching that I hope will enable me to better deliver in my role."- Ruth Thompson, Human Resources Director | Coaching Apprenticeship
“It’s still early days on my apprenticeship, but from day one it has changed how I approach my role, lead my team, and think about my professional development journey. The course is designed to help us engage with key concepts through networking with the other apprentices both at St Mary’s and other institutions and challenging how we think about leadership. The work we do outside the classroom is informative and supplements what we do with our trainer. I’m looking forward to the year ahead and progressing through the apprenticeship.”- Sam Yarnold, Interim Deputy Director of Marketing & Communications | Senior Leader Apprenticeship
To learn more about Staff Apprenticeships, please visit our webpage or email learninganddevelopment@stmarys.ac.uk.