Imogen Pether is recently completed her Procurement and Supply Apprenticeship with UKAEA through Oxford Professional Education and below tells us what it’s been like to study for the apprenticeship.
What was your background before starting your apprenticeship?
Before starting the apprenticeship I completed a BTEC in Business Studies at college and I worked part-time as a receptionist at a local leisure centre. I knew I was interested in business studies and law so procurement was the perfect route. As I was on furlough after going into the first COVID-19 pandemic and finished my college studies from home, I had never had a proper ‘office’ job before so there were lots of new things to learn!
Why did you decide to sign up to the apprenticeship?
I chose to do an apprenticeship rather than the more popular route of University as learning on the job/ being practical has always been more beneficial to my learning than sitting in a class room. I also liked the idea of learning whilst getting paid! UKAEAs core values and mission is something I find incredibly important to the future of energy sources globally and I knew it was a great opportunity to be a part of that.
How did you find the apprenticeship?
I found the apprenticeship difficult at the start as it was completely new territory for me, I had never heard of procurement before so I was very much starting fresh. Over the duration of the course I was supported by UKAEA and OXPEG, whenever I was struggling and there was always sufficient resources available for me. I found the regular progress meetings really useful, especially as I was learning during the pandemic and was adjusting to everything being online rather than face to face.
How did the apprenticeship support your daily work?
I was allocated 20% of my working week to focus on my studies so I would use this time to read up and learn more about what I had seen in my day-to-day role that week. It was really helpful when in the workshops with the tutors as I was able to start identifying different practices and provide real-life examples which made learning so much easier.
Tell us about the company and what your job role involves?
UKAEA is an arms length government body which researches and develops alternative energy solutions for the future. Currently JET (Joint European Torus) is the worlds leading Tokomak and there are so many other projects going on at Culham Campus boasting new opportunities for the future. Whilst my role is not directly linked to researching alternative energy solutions, I know that what I do at work helps others in their roles and together we can make a difference for future generations. Since starting I have worked across multiple business areas and now support the Coporate Support procurement function. I have undertaken my own tenders for teams such as HR and Legal including; Property Legal Services, Pensions Audit services and a Managed Training Provider for the L&D Team.
How did Oxford Professional Education Group support you in your apprenticeship?
OXPEG was really supportive throughout the whole apprenticeship. We had monthly 1:1 meetings where we had a more formal progress review as well as more informal catch ups weekly. These were really beneficial as I was learning during the pandemic and this helped me build confidence and made me feel really supported throughout. I always knew there was someone there if I was unsure of anything or required guidance.
Would you recommend this apprenticeship to others?
I would definitely recommend this apprenticeship to anyone who would like to hit the ground running and continue to learn and develop their skills. I haven’t stopped learning new things and exploring new opportunities within the procurement field. There is a lot of independent guided study so you need to be resourceful and motivated to learn but the opportunities that are open to you once completed are endless.
What advice would you give to someone thinking of starting an apprenticeship?
I would say that one of the best things you could do is say yes to as many opportunities as you can. Whether that be going on a tour of your site and learning about things that you may not wholly understand, or shadowing someone different within your team everything you can absorb and learn will help shape you into the procurement professional you eventually become.
Oxford Professional Education Apprenticeships offer a range of procurement, marketing and project management apprenticeships. If you are interested in completing an apprenticeship or would like to hire an apprentice for your company, get in touch with our team to find out more.