For the majority of my apprenticeship I worked in Public Health as a Programme Officer, but have recently moved to work in People and Culture in the Learning and Development team as a Senior L&D Advisor. The apprenticeship I am currently coming to the end of is the Level 7 Systems Thinking Practitioner. This apprenticeship is linked to a MSc in Systems Thinking in the Public Sector and is provided by the University of Exeter.
A lot of my role in Public Health was about finding and developing innovative solutions to problems and improving efficiencies in working practices whilst bringing the team along on the journey. Although I am early into my role with L&D I see a lot of the same skills and approaches are useful and in fact these skills are transferrable and important in so many roles in the public sector and working in the council specifically. The Systems Thinking apprenticeship has taught me about the methodologies behind the tools and methods we can use to work with complex or ‘wicked’ problems. It has also included a focus on equality, diversity and inclusive leadership.
The apprenticeship has been delivered through online learning, throughout the two years. Some of the modules have had more contact time than others, with two modules being work based projects. All lectures have been on Thursdays and there is a significant amount of work including reading of academic literature, writing essays and compiling portfolio evidence outside these times.
I have found being an apprentice hugely beneficial for both my personal development and my impact at work. I have been able to bring what I have learnt into my work practice and have seen the benefits of the tools and methods that I have been introduced to. I have enjoyed the challenge of completing a Masters qualification whilst also being able to continue my fulltime job. My line manager in Public Health, Lucy O’Loughlin, was a fantastic support both during my application and during the completion of the apprenticeship – giving me the time and opportunity to do the work needed to cover the apprenticeship standards.
I chose to do an apprenticeship because I wanted to develop my knowledge and skills and to have a great impact at work. Thinking in systems is integral to the work we do in the public sector and I could see how completing this apprenticeship, combined with the MSc, would have huge benefits.
If you are looking to complete an apprenticeship I would encourage you to do so, with the understanding that it is a lot of work! It will bring benefits to both yourself and the organisation but it is a commitment – for me it is 2 and a half years – and you need to be prepared for the academic rigour and portfolio expectations of the level of qualification you are undertaking. That said, as I have completed the MSc and portfolio I am on the home stretch, and I am proud of my work and grateful to have been given this opportunity.