Regeneration apprenticeship case study: Ellie

• team: Regeneration
• after apprenticeship: Ellie went on to complete a Higher Apprenticeship in the Housing and Land team, on project management. She was then employed as a Project Support Officer  in the Housing and Land team, and has recently been promoted to Area Manager.

Why did you want to do an apprenticeship at City Hall?

Perceptions around apprenticeships have changed – they're not only applicable for young people who want to work in manual trades.

I researched the role and found out that City Hall does a lot of work around housing, planning and regeneration. I have always had a strong interest in development, design and architecture and had got a place to study architecture at university after leaving school. This, and the fact that City Hall pay the London Living Wage, was definitely an attraction.

How did you hear about the vacancy?

I was familiar with the National Apprenticeship Scheme website and spent some time searching for opportunities. I didn’t just want to apply for any apprenticeship and was quite focussed, so when I saw the apprenticeship in Business Administration with City Hall, I knew this was an opportunity I didn’t want to miss, so I submitted an application.  

Although I was nervous attending the assessment day, it was actually quite a lot of fun and I treated it as a two way process. I wanted to make sure it was the right opportunity for me and to learn more about the different teams who were offering apprenticeships.

What were your day-to-day responsibilities as an apprentice?

Initially it was learning about the team and the work they do, getting to grips with the various programmes taking place all over London. I was fully involved from day one and had the opportunity to work on some really interesting projects, gathering information on the work City Hall has done involving pop-up shops and empty space initiatives, amidst the rise of declining high streets.

I had the opportunity to join site visit walkabouts, attend informal design reviews in architecture practices and assist with the process of the Mayor's Design Advisory Group design reviews. I then moved on to a Higher Apprenticeship to build on my existing experience, and moved from Regeneration to Housing and Land, and began working on Barking Riverside and with the London Development Panel.

What did you find most useful? How have you used this in your current job?

Getting on the job experience helped develop my confidence – especially as I hadn’t worked in an office environment before. This is something that studying for a degree would not have  provided me with. Personally I feel I am further ahead in my career than if I had gone to university, and working has taught me what I really wanted to do and how to work towards it!

What did you find challenging about your apprenticeship?

Juggling the various tasks allocated to me as the Regeneration team’s apprentice! You also need to ensure you stay on top of your NVQ work, which means you need to be structured and focussed in your approach.

The training and development aspect of the apprenticeship programme is really well structured, and I found attending training and development days really useful as it’s a different environment and allows you to reflect on what you’re learning in the work place.

What was the most inspiring thing that happened during your apprenticeship?

Getting to work with Regeneration colleagues from Design for London and the Mayor’s Design Advisory Group!

What were you doing before your apprenticeship here?

I completed my A Levels and took a gap year to consider my options and to earn some money. I worked as a retail assistant in a clothing store for six months.

What did you find most useful about the apprenticeship?

One of the great things about my apprenticeship was the networking with other apprentices – it was like being part of one big family on the same journey! This was a great support network where we could share and discuss experiences. Some of us are still friends nearly two years later. I also felt supported with my career aspirations and personal development.

What tips would you give to future applicants?

Show enthusiasm and research the organisation – the website is a good way to find out about what City Hall does.