Apprentice panel

Tamzin Greenfield

Employer: Cyber Security Associates

Apprenticeship: Cyber Security Technical Professional Level 6

Training provider: University of Gloucestershire 

Assigned route: Digital

Why did you want to be part of the panel?

I joined the panel because I knew that the apprenticeship experience could be improved, and that joining a group of like-minded individuals would be the best way to action this improvement. Apprenticeships are quickly becoming a real contender for further education, and I want to help make them more accessible. 

Tell me a bit about your apprenticeship?

I'm undertaking a Level 6 Cyber security technical professional integrated degree. A lot of words to say I'm completing a Bachelors of Science degree in the standard 3 year duration at University, whilst working a full time job with my employer Cyber Security Associates. It's a fantastic choice for someone who wants both a degree and experience within their sector, which is very important for careers based in tech. 

What is an interesting fact about you?

Before I got into cyber security, I wanted to work in fashion and design. 

Santina Bunting

Employer: Arup Group

Apprenticeship: Civil engineering level 3

Training provider: Salford & Trafford Engineering Group Training Association

Assigned route: Construction and the built environment

Why did you want to be part of the panel?

As the only person out of 150 secondary school students to undertake an apprenticeship I understood the overwhelming value this untraditional route presented. Being invited back to my secondary school to speak has helped me to become a passionate advocate of apprenticeships and so through my role on the panel I hope to share my thoughts and ideas and improve and shape the future of apprenticeships.

Tell me a bit about your apprenticeship?

I am currently undertaking a level 3 Civil Engineering apprenticeship within the geotechnics team at Arup. My role enables me to have had the opportunity to work on a range of range of highways projects where my role is the data management of information collected on site by contractors for us then to be able to produce drawings showing the geology of the soil and manipulate the data to extract the relevant information to help inform the parameters of foundation design.

What is an interesting fact about you?

I am the goalkeeper for the Under 19 Great British Handball Squad and have had the opportunity to travel to: Spain, Portugal, and Denmark. 

Dilraj Singh Bharj

Employer: Severn Trent

Apprenticeship: Commercial procurement and supply level 4

Training provider: Charted Institute of Procurement and Supply

Assigned route: Sales, marketing and procurement

Why did you want to be part of the panel?

I wanted to join the Apprentice Panel because since joining an Apprenticeship scheme I have seen myself grow as an individual so much and I want to educate people around the real benefits that Apprenticeship schemes can offer. I had initially taken the university route however decided mid-way through my degree to change my career pathway. As a panel member, I wanted to make sure that people who are thinking of making a similar choice to me feel represented and being a panel member allows me to do this!

Tell me a bit about your apprenticeship?

I am currently undertaking a L4 Commercial Procurement & Supply Apprenticeship with Severn Trent alongside working towards my CIPS qualification. The procurement department essentially looks after everything an organisation purchases and any relationships that it has with suppliers. I really enjoy my role as it allows me to visit different sites and network with different people and organisations on a daily basis!

What is an interesting fact about you?

I have actually done an interview with the stars of the Paddington movie!

William Pollyn

Employer: IBM

Apprenticeship: Level 4 Software Test Engineer 

Training provider: GKA

Assigned route: Digital

Why did I want to be a part of the panel?

I wanted to become a panel member due to my enthusiasm and passion for apprenticeships. My apprenticeship has far surpassed my expectations due to the endless opportunities I’ve been given to expand my skills in different areas. I aim to express the many benefits of an apprenticeship scheme in collaboration with other apprentices, as I believe voicing the opportunities involved within the pathway is essential to showcase the beneficial impact that it can have to help progress and develop your future career.

Tell me a bit about your apprenticeship?

I’m a Level 4 Software Test Engineer Apprentice at IBM and have experienced Functional, Automation and Performance testing. I’ve developed both my technical and personal skill sets, and have also experienced different activities during my apprenticeship, such as attending a school careers fare to promote apprenticeship schemes, an awards evening where I was selected as a finalist, and I lead a team to win an internal IBM event. I’ve also surpassed the required software examination certifications for my role.

What is an interesting fact about you?

During school, I did not take any IT or computer related GCSEs (other than a short course which I didn’t enjoy at the time)! My A-Levels were not related to software or IT in any way, and I did not initially think that I would choose to work for a large computer / technology company as a Software Test Engineer, using different IT related software on a daily basis.

Daphne Muskett

Employer: HIT Training LTD

Apprenticeship: Learning and Skill Teacher - Level 5

Training provider: HIT Training LTD

Assigned route: Education and early years

Why did you want to be part of the panel?

As an Apprentice Panel member, I work with other panel members to support apprentices in getting their voices heard. We work to widen the impact of apprenticeships to wider communities and aim to drive the quality of apprenticeship services and prompt better experiences for current and future apprentices.

Tell me a bit about your apprenticeship?

I have completed my Learning Skills Teacher, Level 5, Apprenticeship, upskilling myself to increase my career value to a Qualified Learning and Skills Teacher status. I thoroughly enjoyed my apprenticeship journey and have immensely gained in confidence, knowledge, and skills.

What is an interesting fact about you?

I have over a decade’s experience working in Further Education and Training and the reason I wanted to complete my own apprenticeship, was because I witnessed the positive impact work-based learning was having on my apprentices’ knowledge, improving their skills, and enhancing their behaviours.

Harvey Church

Employer: BBC

Apprenticeship: Broadcast and media systems engineer level 6

Training provider: Birmingham City University

Assigned route: Creative and design

Why did you want to be part of the panel?

Two parts: The want to raise the voice of apprentices within the Creative and Design route and personally understand the skills landscape a lot better. There are more than degree apprenticeships out there! They need speaking about too!

Tell me a bit about your apprenticeship?

I’m a Level 6 Broadcast Engineering Apprentice. It’s not.. one field. The best way to describe it is getting tv and radio content to you.
We look at IP Technologies, Programming, Electronics and how it can all support content distribution.

What is an interesting fact about you?

I managed to get onto the roof of St Paul’s Cathedral (legally might I add!) There are great views of it from the river… but its better the other way round!

James Mill

Employer: Pfizer

Apprenticeship: Laboratory Scientist Apprenticeship (Level 5)

Training provider: SIAS

Assigned route: Health and science

Why did you want to be part of the panel?

I really enjoyed and highly valued my apprenticeship, so welcomed the opportunity to be apart of developing future apprenticeships.

Tell me a bit about your apprenticeship?

I have been a Laboratory Science Apprentice at Pfizer for 7 years now. My work involves developing and scaling up drug manufacturing processes.

What is an interesting fact about you?

I lived on a boat throughout my childhood travelling through the Mediterranean.

Nathan Huchinson

Employer: BCAL Consulting

Apprenticeship: Civil Engineering, Level 6

Training provider: Coventry University

Assigned route: Construction and built environment

Why did you want to be part of the panel?

I wanted to be part of the panel to help promote the apprenticeship route, which has worked so well for me. My company is continually looking to train new apprentices with a consistent approach. As a more senior apprentice, I wanted to share my passion for the scheme, ensuring that new apprentices are given the best possible experience - being part of the panel, shaping the standards and having access to the insight of many other apprentices, allows me to do this.

Tell me a bit about your apprenticeship?

I work for a consultancy in Northamptonshire, currently training on a civil engineering apprenticeship. ‘Civil engineering’ is a broad term used for construction engineering but at my company, like many, the term ‘civil’ engineering refers to my role of designing drainage, roads, and external areas.

What is an interesting fact about you?

Originally, I wanted to be a police officer. I worked as a special constable in tandem with the early stages of my civil engineering apprenticeship before deciding engineering was the preferred career path for me.

James Stephenson

Employer: BT Group Plc

Apprenticeship: Digital Technologies Solutions Professional (Level 6) (Integrated Degree) (Network Specialism)

Training provider: Staffordshire University

Assigned route: Digital

Why did you want to be part of the panel?

Joining this panel to me is all about opening opportunities to more people, I wouldn’t have found my apprenticeship, if it wasn’t for meeting a fellow apprentice, and understanding more about the path that they took. Since then, I’ve been working to help people understand a much wider range of roles available to them rather than just the traditional path. Supporting people find their perfect route for education, is everything that I want to do, to help people get to where they want to be in life and this Panel will really help me amplify voices not just of Apprentices that I work with, but applicants, and people who want to do more of them across the country.

Tell me a bit about your apprenticeship?

I’m working on the Digital Technologies Solutions Professional Apprenticeship, with a specialism in Network Engineering. This gives me such a wide range of access to technologies across the world, that our computer systems and data centres use globally to communicate. Alongside this, my university degree is supporting me with my critical, technical and writing skills that I need to develop internal project proposals to take lead on projects on things that can turn in a range of things from internal tools, to workflows affecting people across the business.

What is an interesting fact about you?

Before joining BT, I worked for a very long time on the Roblox Platform, spending most of my interest recently in working as an educator, teaching people what I’d learnt on the platform over a long time. Alongside that I was working as a gameplay engineer for both brands, and personal projects that had to push the limits of what I thought were possible.

Lola Sharp

Employer: Sexy Fish

Apprenticeship: Commis chef (level 2)

Training provider: Westminster Kingsway College

Assigned route: Catering and hospitality

Why did you want to be part of the panel?

I am a dedicated apprentice chef who has been through many ups and downs in the past year. I feel I have a lot to contribute to the apprenticeship panel. I wish to make my voice heard in order to help other apprentices overcome any challenges they might face and help them make their dream jobs a reality.

I feel like joining the apprenticeship panel would give me confidence and be a great way to develop my leadership skills and presentation skills.

Travelling and networking appeals to me as I have always loved meeting new people and putting my ideas forward.

Tell me a bit about your apprenticeship?

I am currently studying a Level 2 Commis Chef apprenticeship at the Sexy Fish in Mayfair in affiliation with Westminster Kingsway College. I am loving the opportunities it has given me and looking forward to going onto the Level 3 next year.

What is an interesting fact about you?

I have coeliac disease so need to follow a strict gluten free diet. It’s my dream one day to open my own gluten free bakery.

Hannah Wright

Employer: Digital Innovators

Apprenticeship: Project Manager BSc (level 6)

Training provider: Aston University

Assigned route: Business and administration

Why did you want to be part of the panel?

I was eager to join the panel because I have always had a passion for helping young people and promoting  opportunities of alternative pathways to employment for students as they prepare to enter the world of work. I believe apprenticeships are an ideal transition from full-time education into work, and a great way to enhance professional experience alongside learning. I am a strong advocate for the experience and support apprenticeships provide, and would like them to become even more well-known as routes into employment.

Tell me a bit about your apprenticeship?

I am currently undertaking a level 6 degree apprenticeship in Project Management. This allows me to continuously develop my technical knowledge and skills, alongside my day-to-day role developing my practical and professional experience. I love the fact that I can immediately apply what I learn through my studies to my role at work.

What is an interesting fact about you?

I danced for about 13 years, from the age of 4, mainly focusing on Ballet and Contemporary.

Gurinderpal Jhutti

Employer: West London NHS Trust

Apprenticeship: Occupational Therapy BSc (level 6)

Training provider: Coventry University

Assigned route: Health and science

Why did you want to be part of the panel?

I wanted to become part of the apprentice panel to create positive change for future apprentices and ensure sustainable educational prospects. The apprenticeship pathway allowed me to change my career from the engineering sector into healthcare, a scary but exciting adventure. I look forward to contributing my knowledge and insight to projects and discussions focused on improving the apprentice experience.

Tell me a bit about your apprenticeship?

Currently, I am about to enter the 4th and final year of my Occupational Therapy apprenticeship, based at Coventry University. I began my pathway during Covid and a lot has changed over the years as we transitioned back to face-to-face teaching.

What is an interesting fact about you?

An interesting fact about me is that I have a trained therapy animal named Storm, who supports my practice both in trust and externally for charity, in a wide array of clinical and non-clinical settings.

Conal McMahon

Employer: Laing O'Rourke

Apprenticeship: Building energy management systems - control engineer (level 4)

Training provider: Group Horizon

Assigned route: Construction and the built environment

Why did you want to be part of the panel?

I want help people to have someone like them to support them in their apprentice journey. I also want help grow and develop apprentice pathways, bridging industry gaps for the best possible experience to be the foundations of a strong career.

Tell me a bit about your apprenticeship?

BEMS or Building Energy Management Systems is all about making people comfortable within a space by using computer-based systems that control and monitor a building's mechanical and electrical equipment such as heating, ventilation, lighting, and power systems.

What is an interesting fact about you?

I have been involved in sports my entire life competing in various athletic disciplines and I used to compete in Pole vault.

Bethany Dodgson

Employer: Hilton Newcastle Gateshead

Apprenticeship: Hospitality manager (level 4)

Training provider: Lifetime training

Assigned route: Catering and hospitality

Why did you want to be part of the panel?

I want to be part of the panel to ensure the same opportunities and support is giving to all apprentices.

Tell me a bit about your apprenticeship?

After completing my level 3 in hospitality supervisor am looking forward to continuing my apprenticeship journey by completing my level 4 Hospitality Manager.

What is an interesting fact about you?

I am passionate about raising awareness of invisible conditions & Unpaid Carers, My biggest awareness campaign included being in 2 medical journals.

Antonia Clark-Adamson

Employer: HM Revenue and Customs

Apprenticeship: Digital user experience (level 6)

Training provider: QA and Northumbria University

Assigned route: Digital

Why did you want to be part of the panel?

Being a part of the panel is important to me because I wouldn’t have the experience, knowledge and friendships without my first apprenticeship when I was 18. I want the opportunity to further improve and help reach a diverse range of potential apprentices. I’m looking forward to networking and learning from everyone during my time on the panel too.

Tell me a bit about your apprenticeship?

My apprenticeship is in digital user experience and looks at the various methodologies used to understand users needs and identify pain points of a service or a product. Hopefully, bringing this skill to the panel will help to improve project delivery and see the apprentices through a different lens.

What is an interesting fact about you?

An interesting fact about me … Maybe that I love a DIY project - the bigger the better!! I renovated a house during lockdown and am desperate to do it again!

Olivia Hullah

Employer: Trust Heating

Apprenticeship: Digital Marketing (Integrated Degree)

Training provider: The Development Manager

Assigned route: Sales, marketing and procurement

Why did you want to be part of the panel?

I wanted to join the apprenticeship panel because I have personally experienced the transformative power of apprenticeships. In 2020 I planned to go to university, however COVID had other plans and I had to take a gap year and someone suggested doing a Digital Marketing Degree Apprenticeship. Fast forward 3 years later, I am leading a marketing team towards becoming the UK's leading electric heating manufacturer - all down to my apprenticeship, which has undoubtedly changed the course of my life.

Tell me a bit about your apprenticeship?

My Digital Marketing Degree apprenticeship/job covers all things marketing, from ensuring an online presence across socials, website and email, to targeting domestic and commercial customers via personal and unique marketing strategies.

What is an interesting fact about you?

I’m currently training to run my first ever London Marathon!

Sophie Smith

Employer: Devon County Council

Apprenticeship: Business administration (level 3)

Training provider: Exeter College

Assigned route: Business and administration

Why did you want to be part of the panel?

I joined the panel because I wanted to promote apprenticeships while also helping to drive their improvement. Having been unable to take the traditional route, I appreciate what a lifeline being able to undertake an apprenticeship is. I also wanted to improve my own teamworking and communication skills while being able to make an impact.

Tell me a bit about your apprenticeship?

I am currently doing a level 3 apprenticeship in business administration. This apprenticeship has allowed me to work within 2 different finance teams and I am about to move to my 3rd. I really enjoy my role as being able to rotate placements has allowed me to meet lots of new people improve my adaptability.

What is an interesting fact about you?

When I was a few hours old my parents registered me for a library card. This made me the youngest library member in my county – it was even in the local newspaper.

Benjamin Barraud

Employer: GKN Aerospace

Apprenticeship: BEng (Hons) Mechanical engineering (level 6)

Training provider: University of Hertfordshire

Assigned route: Engineering and manufacturing

Why did you want to be part of the panel?

To help improve apprenticeships for future apprentices and do my best to eliminate problems that my fellow apprentices or I have seen. I would like to be able to hear problems from apprentices and act on them, hopefully bringing about change. I have been to schools and career fairs to speak to students about my apprenticeship, and this is the next step for me to give back to apprenticeships.

Tell me a bit about your apprenticeship?

I am a Manufacturing Engineer Apprentice, studying Mechanical Engineering at Hertfordshire University. I have just complete my first year of university and have three more years to fulfil. I have been sent to parliament to represent my company and talk to politicians from the Shadow Cabinet about my apprenticeship.

What is an interesting fact about you?

I captained my rugby team in our last tag rugby county tournament and our first contact rugby county tournament winning both competitions.

Lisa Taylor-Clarke

Employer: Arden University Coventry

Apprenticeship: Departmental manager (level 5)

Training provider: BMS Progress

Assigned route: Education and early years

Why did you want to be part of the panel?

As an educator and life long learner I wanted to be involved in shaping the future of apprenticeships.

Tell me a bit about your apprenticeship?

My apprenticeship is supporting my professional and personal growth as a leader.

What is an interesting fact about you?

I am plant and shoe collector.

Alexia Williams

Employer: Rolls-Royce PLC

Apprenticeship: Through-life Engineering Services Specialist Master's Degree apprentice (level 7)

Training provider: Cranfield University

Assigned route: Engineering and manufacturing

Why did you want to be part of the panel?

My active involvement in promoting STEM careers, from my prior role as an Aerospace Engineering Degree Apprentice to my current position as a Master's Apprentice, has provided me with the knowledge and skills necessary to make valuable contributions to panel discussions and to enhance apprenticeship initiatives. One of my core interests lies in motivating and empowering young women to excel in engineering, as well as breaking down gender stereotypes in this field. I aspire to expand apprenticeship opportunities to a broader audience, thereby helping to address the gender disparity that exists in these professions.

Tell me a bit about your apprenticeship?

I am currently doing a Level 7 Through-life Engineering Services Specialist Master’s Degree Apprenticeship which is a 2-year course. I am doing this alongside having a full-time role as a Deployed Lifecycle Engineer. This apprenticeship provides the skills, knowledge, and behaviours to become a future leader in organisations wishing to optimise the value in-use and cost in-use for long-life engineering assets.

What is an interesting fact about you?

I used to compete as a national-level high diver until the age of 18, and now I coach high diving, instructing both adults and children at a lake in Bristol.

Lauren Biggs

Employer: Quiffys

Apprenticeship: Hairdressing (Level 2)

Training provider: Eastleigh College

Assigned route:  Hair, Beauty and Aesthetics

Why did you want to be part of the panel? 

To explain the good things about having a hairdressing apprenticeship and what I have learnt whilst doing it.  

Tell me a bit about your apprenticeship? 

I think I am learning more doing an apprenticeship then I would doing full time college because you get more salon experience.