An apprenticeship is more than boring admin, Positive Outcomes explains
To mark the start of National Apprenticeship Week, new research from leading apprenticeships provider Positive Outcomes, has revealed the top ten most important tasks undertaken by apprentices during the course of their traineeship.
Respondents to the study were originally asked, “What was the most unusual thing you had to do during your apprenticeship?” and requested to specify the task/requirement they were asked to complete.
Ryan Longmate, joint managing director of Positive Outcomes, said: “We received some really fun and quirky responses from this particular question within the survey, but what we found really interesting was the amount of answers given by apprentices that involved a high degree of responsibility and trust. A majority of the answers that came back demonstrated how the apprentices were being tasked with very senior projects. It goes to show that apprenticeships offer plenty of opportunities for diverse, entertaining and fun happenings as well as giving apprentices the opportunities to work on some very senior tasks.”
From the answers compiled, the team at Positive Outcomes established a top ten of the most important assignments they were asked to undertake, which revealed the following results:
1. Put together the infrastructure for a new office
2. Organise an office opening with the mayor of the town
3. Introduce new concepts to the boss
4. Train other colleagues
5. Attend client meetings
6. Take part in a charity bike ride using a static bike in store
7. Book a yacht for 24 people
8. Take pictures of customers for the company’s social media pages
9. Assist with a brand refresh for the company
10. Organise the company’s social events
Ryan commented: “People often regard an apprenticeship as either being trade-based or involving monotonous admin tasks such as photocopying or simply making tea. This simply isn’t true. Our research demonstrates how apprentices are given very important tasks to do.”
The study, questioned 227 young adults aged between 16 and 24. Much of the research was aimed at gaining an understanding of young adults’ outlook on apprenticeships, but as part of the wider study, respondents were asked to specify unusual occurrences during the course of their apprenticeship, of which most talked about the seriousness of their roles.
Ryan concluded: “Youngsters might see working life as a chore and meaningless before they’ve had a chance to experience it, but apprenticeships provide an understanding of the working world, fully immersing young adults within it and giving them serious responsibilities and a sense of fulfilment.”
Positive Outcomes is one of the country’s top ten independent training providers and a direct contractor in the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) Top 40 Providers list.
During National Apprenticeship Week the firm will be running a daily ‘Ask the Expert’ session on twitter, where between 3-4pm budding apprentices can ask the team at Positive Outcomes anything they want about apprenticeships using the hashtag #AskPTL.
The firm is also actively recruiting for roles at all of its sites, including sites in Bristol, Birmingham, Leeds, London, Manchester and Nottingham. For more information on job opportunities, apprenticeships and the work that Positive Outcomes do visit the website, or ring 0800 488 0488 to find out more.