Apprentice Q & A
1st Year Business Management Graduate Apprentice
How did you first hear about Graduate Apprenticeships?
I first heard about Graduate Apprenticeships at the end of 5th year in school. Through my own research, I looked more into them and found opportunities to earn while learning and gain practical skills in industry, which I felt would be more beneficial for my career. I applied for one in 5th year quite late on, with little knowledge about the company or Graduate Apprenticeships as a whole.
Throughout the summer and into 6th year, I set time aside to study and gather more information about what GAs offer, their benefits, and whether it was the right path for me. During 6th year, I explored specific opportunities, including Leidos, where I went on to apply.
When you were deciding what to do after school, were GAs your first choice, or were you also considering college, university or going straight into work?
A Graduate Apprenticeship was my first choice, however, I wanted to attend Strathclyde University to study because of the accreditation their business school holds. Before applying for a Graduate Apprenticeship, I also used my five UCAS choices. I applied for three courses at Strathclyde, one at Caledonian, and one at Stirling. I received four unconditional offers and had accepted a full time offer at the University of Strathclyde before my assessment centre took place at Leidos.
What would you say has been the biggest challenge so far in your GA?
One of the biggest initial challenges for me was settling into a corporate environment. Coming straight from school and having only worked part time in busy, fast paced environments, the transition into a corporate setting was a major change. However, with support from my buddy, mentor and line manager, I worked through these early challenges and now lead by example within the office environment.
You are balancing a part time job, your full time role at Leidos and your studies. How do you manage it all?
At Leidos, Graduate Apprentices complete four 12 month rotations across different departments during the early careers programme. My current rotation is internal and not directly customer facing, which allows for more flexibility. I have built a strong relationship with my team and line manager.
Leidos gives me a protected study day every Friday, which the university recommends for all companies. This gives me dedicated time to complete my university work each week. During busy coursework periods, I sometimes work at weekends or in the evenings.
For my part time job, most of my shifts are at weekends and all are on a casual basis, meaning I can choose when I want to work. If I’m too busy with university or Leidos, I can simply decline shifts. For weekday shifts starting at 4 or 5pm, Leidos allows me to use flexitime to finish an hour early and make up the time later in the week, as long as I don’t miss any important meetings or events.
Some teachers, parents and carers can still be sceptical about GAs. What would you say to someone who is not sure they are a good option?
I understand why some people are still sceptical, but I genuinely believe that a Graduate Apprenticeship is the best pathway for many individuals. While some careers, such as medicine or dentistry, require the traditional university route, a Graduate Apprenticeship provides you with a strong foundation for the beginning of your career, allowing you to graduate debt-free and have practical skills in a professional capacity while gaining four years of relevant industry experience compared to many of your peers at a similar age.
Find out more about our Business Management Graduate Apprenticeship