Successfully leading on flexible adult apprenticeships

CITE is a community and charity training provider which helps people to gain employment, or to increase their employability as they progress to employment. 

CITE said: 'We had a role we were looking to fill and decided to participate in Camden Council's Adult Apprenticeships programme.

'The programme was aimed at parents looking to get into employment after having children. It recruited Camden residents aged 25 years old or above, who had a child under the age of 12 and were not currently in employment.

'The apprenticeship offered flexible, part-time working at London Living Wage on a two year contract. We recruited Sarah Hammond to a support working role helping mothers to get back into work. Sarah started on 18 hours a week and gradually increased her hours when it became possible with other commitments.

'She has been very grounded and mature; her personal confidence and common sense have helped her when talking to people about their situation. She has become indispensable and a key player in the team.'

Sarah said of her experience: "I was looking for something that gave me flexible working on term time and this apprenticeship has given me the confidence, the CV and the networking to do well in my job and to feel confident about progressing in the future.

"My manager has been really supportive and their faith has given me real confidence to do the role.

"I would also recommend apprenticeships in general. You don’t realise how important the qualifications are but it covers so many things."