With it being Scottish Apprenticeship Week, we thought we’d have a chat with our very own Modern Apprentice Hannah Sheridan. Hannah’s been with Source’s parent company, DC Publishing, since last September. Her official title is ‘admin assistant’, but she’s working towards an SVQ in business administration. Hannah explains why she chose to do an MA, and what she wants to get out of it…
Tell me a bit about yourself…
I’m Hannah, I’m 18 and I’m from Knightswood, in the West End of Glasgow. I went to St Thomas Aquinas School near Scotstoun. I enjoyed school up until sixth year, and then it got a bit boring! I wanted to do some admin work as I’m not so good at the academic side of things in life.
You’re doing a Modern Apprenticeship with us at Source. Tell us a bit more about it…
I’m doing an SVQ in business and administration. I enjoy admin and business so it seemed like a good apprenticeship to do.
Where did you hear about it?
I saw the apprenticeship online (www.glasgow.gov.uk/apprentices) through The Commonwealth Apprenticeship initiative. My school told us about these kind of apprenticeships before I left.
Why are you doing this apprenticeship?
Mainly to get the qualification at the end of it, but the skills, particularly the admin side, will help me in the future when I go after jobs.
How are things going?
I’m enjoying it, although getting up early everyday isn’t always easy! It was a bit of a struggle coming straight from school into a working environment but I feel more grown up and can be relied on in the workplace. In the morning I work with Connect Appointments – DC Publishing’s sister company – which is at the bottom of the building, and then in the afternoon I do some work with DC Publishing which is at the top of the building! I enjoy the variety of working in two different types of offices.
How could it be improved?
Ideally I’d like more people around me my age; however the older members of staff have made me feel at home. I can’t complain really as they’ve given me a lot of good jobs to get on with.
What do you think you’ll go onto next? What’s your dream?
I’m really not very sure as to what I’ll do next. Just now I’m focussing on getting the qualification by the end of the year. It would be really helpful in getting into college if I wanted to do that next. I’m not sure about running my own business! [laughs] I don’t think I’m smart enough if I’m honest.
What advice would you give to anyone doing a Modern Apprenticeship?
Make sure it’s definitely something that you want to do, as most of them last at least a year, sometimes longer. I’d advise choosing a bigger company, as I know someone who is working as a receptionist in this tiny office and they’re really not enjoying it. Doing some research into the organisation is really important to understand who they are and what it will be like, before you say yes to the apprenticeship.
For more information on Modern Apprentices at www.scottishapprenticeshipweek.com
