Phoebe Dent joined the LMB at the age of 16 as an HR Assistant Apprentice and has just completed her apprenticeship in Business Administration with Cambridge Regional College. Phoebe came to the LMB having completed AS levels in business studies, physical education and geography at Downham Market Sixth Form and had worked in her family’s farm business. Phoebe’s interest in HR stemmed from her experience within the family business where she was involved in interacting with people and assisting with recruitment. The apprenticeship at the LMB allowed her to pursue this further, gaining a formal qualification whilst also acquiring experience working in a large, well-regarded organisation.
The apprenticeship involved a combination of hands-on and theoretical learning, covering employee rights and responsibilities, general administration skills and the development of time-management and interpersonal skills. Phoebe regularly attended sessions with other Business Administration Apprentices at the Deakin Centre on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus and was also given valuable support by the LMB HR team.
Thanks to the knowledge and skills gained through completion of her apprenticeship, Phoebe has been promoted to the role of HR Assistant at the LMB. Phoebe will continue her studies with a Level 3 CIPD Foundation Certificate in Human Resource Practice. Phoebe commented, “From doing an apprenticeship I have been able to earn while I learn and have gained practical and relevant experience as I went along. It has given me even more of an insight into HR and therefore I am really keen to continue to pursue a career within HR and aim to gain as much experience as possible to aid in my development.”
Over the past 3 years the LMB has, as part of a Government initiative to provide three million new apprenticeships by 2020, supported a variety of apprenticeships. These provide participants with relevant experience and formal qualifications, meaning they develop valuable skills sought by employers. In addition, apprenticeships combine ‘on the job training’ with a ‘living’ wage, in contrast with traditional degrees where students graduate saddled with debt.
Further references:
Government apprentice website
LMB recruitment
Apprentices complete their training in the LMB Workshops