Finance apprentice Callum Lees will get the chance to find out first-hand what it’s like to be a senior officer today when he will shadow the Assistant Chief Executive of Nottingham City Council as part of National Apprenticeship Week.
As part of the experience, Callum will attend a meeting at Nottingham Trent University and a Judging Panel with Candida Brudenell, who started her own career as an apprentice.
“I started out as a trainee town planner with the City Council when I was 18,” said Candida. “I didn’t know then that I would one day be Assistant Chief Executive, but with vocational learning there’s absolutely nothing to stop you reaching the very top.”
National Apprenticeship Week, which runs from March 14 to 18, is an annual campaign to celebrate the positive impact apprenticeships have on individuals, businesses and the wider economy.
Callum, 23, started his one-year Level 2 apprenticeship in March 2015, after working in the construction industry since leaving school.
He said: “All apprentices were offered a chance to shadow the Assistant Chief Executive. I put my name forward and it was picked out of a hat.
“It’s a great opportunity to see how my work fits in to the bigger picture and I’m looking forward to getting an insight into Candida Brudenell’s role.
Before starting his apprenticeship, Callum worked as a team leader on the NET phase two Tram line extensions.
He said: “A number of family members have trained in finance and I always took an interest in what they were doing.
“I initially wanted to study for a qualification in my spare time after work, but I decided to go down the apprenticeship route as it’s a great way to gain work place experience that wouldn’t be possible through studying alone.
“On top of this I know that there is huge potential to have a great career and many paths I could follow once qualified.”
The Council recently confirmed that they will be keeping Callum on for a further apprenticeship to complete his level 3 AAT accounting qualification.
Candida Brudenell said: “As a former apprentice myself, I’m very happy to be involved with this celebration of National Apprenticeship Week.
“We have a vibrant, award-winning apprenticeship programme at Nottingham City Council that offers about 100 young people the chance to start an apprenticeship with us each year.
“These are real roles across many departments – from IT and marketing to trading standards and horticulture – which equip our apprentices with the skills and experience to go on to sustainable employment or further study.”