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Sydney Hendy, former Business Administrator Apprentice at The Â鶹¹ú²ú & Enterprise Company (CEC) describes her journey from education to employment.

Tell us a bit about you and your background

While at college I studied two A-Levels and a B-Tech; these were Business, Media and Theatrical and Media Make-up. Even though these subjects are quite different, I was interested in how I could apply the knowledge gained from each subject simultaneously. A lot of my college experience took place in lockdown so although I learnt a lot, I felt I didn’t get the most out of my courses especially practical courses like Media Make-up.

Once I finished college, I decided to get a part-time job at a local fish and chip shop and to practise freelance makeup on clients. This gave me the time I needed to figure out the route I wanted to take and led me to realising that I enjoyed promoting communicating with customers more than the makeup application which ultimately led to finding and getting my current first job.

Why did you choose to do an apprenticeship?

Throughout school, I had this feeling that I would be able to learn and thrive more in a working environment and that’s why I chose to go down the apprenticeship route – university never quite appealed to me.

When searching for jobs, even entry level roles, I found that they would ask for a lot of work experience which I did not have. After speaking to a friend who was already doing an apprenticeship, my eyes were opened to a whole new career pathway that I felt suited me better than studying for a degree. That's when the idea of an apprenticeship became my goal.

What support do young people need from employers or educators to prepare for their first job?

I prepared for finding my first job by working on my CV. Coming straight from college and only having part time experience, I needed a way to sell myself and my skills straight away. Educators and employers can support young people to prepare for the application process, starting with their CV. I had at least 5 people who all varied in age and levels of experience look at my CV and give me feedback before applying for jobs.

Educators need to bring attention to all career routes. I’m currently working as a Business Administrator Apprentice, in the External Affairs team at CEC with a focus on marketing and communications. There is now a much wider choice of apprenticeships.

It is also important for employers and educators to be supportive, actively listen to young people and to value their ideas as much as any other staff member. This makes all the difference when creating an inviting work environment and to a young person’s attitude to work. The interview process is also important to consider when it comes to young people looking for their first jobs. Employers need to be mindful and adapt the interview process for young people applying for their first job as they may not know what to expect.

What do you think young people can contribute to an organisation?

Young people can contribute so much to an organisation as their fresh perspective and innovative ideas can bring exciting developments to an organisation. They can also bring new concepts such as social media trends and new digital tools and platforms which could bring exposure to the organisation that they may not have been aware of.

What skills have you used so far on your career journey?

Communication is an important skill that’s helped me get to where I am, especially in a time where a lot of the workplace experience can occur online with virtual interviews, meetings, and emails. As a young person it can be easy to use everyday language such as slang or abbreviations in our communication but ensuring that I come across professional in all communications is a skill that helped me get to where I am.

Another skill is good time management. Punctuality tells an employer and colleagues a lot about you. For example, I make sure I’m early for work with enough time to make a hot drink, catch up with colleagues and to log on at my official start time. I apply this concept to virtual meetings too.

Lastly, it’s important to have strong organisational skills. Being unorganised can affect your reputation within the company and colleagues are less likely to come to you for help or to delegate tasks to you. Being organised is a skill that has helped me prioritise my tasks and improve my productivity.

Looking back over your time as an apprentice at CEC what key skills did you gain and what opportunities did it bring you?

During my time as an apprentice at CEC I gained a variety of different skills through many different opportunities. I expressed my interest in project management and had the opportunity to support in the organisation and planning of one of CEC’s largest corporate events held at the House of Lords.

This project enabled me to improve my presentation, collaboration and project management skills as well as my adaptability through the unforeseen challenges that can occur when planning an event. I also gained a huge amount of confidence in my professional self which has continued throughout my time at CEC.

You finished your apprenticeship in Summer 2024, what are you doing now?

I finished my Business Admin Apprenticeship in July 2024 with a Distinction grade and luckily gained a new role at CEC as the External Affairs Officer. I work across our wider directorate in all aspects of External Affairs, with added responsibilities and a broader remit, including PA support to the Chief of Strategy and Communications and I also co-lead on Internal Communications. I continue to lead on my own projects including finding more ways to embed youth voice throughout CEC’s work. I am very settled now in my new role and feel it is such a great fit for me.

What advice would you give to anyone thinking about doing an apprenticeship? And do you have any advice for employers? 

The advice I would give to someone considering an apprenticeship is do your research. Look into what is best for you and your learning, as they are put in place to help you excel. Look at the different levels you can achieve, what course will guide you into the industry you want to be in. Also, once you find an apprenticeship you like, research the employer you will be with - do their values match yours? What’s the work culture like? Will that employer help you progress in your career?

As for employers there are many ways you can support your apprentices to ensure they get the most out of their apprenticeship with you. Something that allowed me to excel in my apprenticeship was my employer always finding new opportunities for me, things I didn’t think I’d ever be involved in this early in my career journey but which really allowed me to develop some crucial skills.

I also valued the Â鶹¹ú²ú colleagues who went above and beyond to help me with both the work and academic aspects of my apprenticeship – such as giving me feedback I could use as evidence, and helping me improve my presentations.

Originally published in July 2023, updated January 2025