#ScottishAppWeek2023 | Rachel Kennedy

Rachel Kennedy, SFE Events & Relationships Manager

1.       What was your apprenticeship and why did you choose it? 

I was never good at maths. I had a tutor, I went to after school classes, I watched online videos but yet nothing seemed to help me improve. When I failed national 5 maths and was rejected from 5 universities, I lost all my confidence in maths and finance. It was incredibly difficult for me to navigate my way into university as all university degrees require you to have national 5 maths. Despite having four A’s at higher, I was rejected from them all.

 I applied for a job as a receptionist over the summer, to earn some money and decide what I would do next… I started to build a network, earn money and get into a routine and I decided, this was the route for me! However, part of me loved learning and really wanted to go to university. I did some research and discovered that the wonderful Heriot Watt offered an initiative I’d never heard of – Business Management, Graduate Apprenticeships. I did some more reading and discovered that this would allow me to work for four days a week, with a day release for studying and all coursework would be based on my current role. Studying for four years, debt free and not having to find a job afterwards… What is not to love?!

I chose this apprenticeship as I wanted to study business management anyway. I was interested in SWOT analysis, supply, and demand and different PESTEL trends affecting businesses. It was amazing to be working and relate all coursework to my current role. I had industry veterans working alongside me who I could ask for advise and a range of mentors who would be able to support me.

2.       What did you enjoy most about your apprenticeship and why?

 I loved my apprenticeship. Every single bit of it. I loved travelling to campus and making friends from other organisations – I made friends for life at university through the Graduate Apprenticeship pathway.

As a new start in an organisation, the different projects allowed me to build a network with the entire organisation as the degree allowed me to speak to everyone. I had finance projects, where I had to meet with the Head of Finance. I had project management projects where I had to meet and interview the Chief Executive and I conducted all staff surveys which allowed me to meet everyone throughout the business. I am unsure I would have had these opportunities otherwise to connect with people at such senior levels.

The support from an organisation when you’re studying is invaluable. Working on the reception desk and colleagues asking ‘How did Friday go?’ and ‘What did you learn this week?’ held me accountable to my studies. I loved speaking to various department and colleagues and conducting SWOT analysis on their departments and I implemented changes that the organisation had never thought of. It felt amazing to be able to inform senior colleagues of changes in business policies or current affairs, that I had learnt about at University.

3.       Describe something that surprised you about your apprenticeship?

What surprised me? Brilliant question. The biggest surprise is the autonomy that online learning gives you.  I learnt so much about myself as a learner. I realised the importance of planning – I had to manage work deadlines and ensure they didn’t coincide with university deadlines. I had to work alongside revising. One of the main things I learnt is that having a supportive manager, team and employer is paramount to being able to study whilst working. You must be given time to undertake assessments and carry out surveys and research.

Something else that surprised me was the lack of knowledge other people have on the GA pathway. So many of my friends said they wish they’d known about it, my parents said they’d wished it had been an option for them and so many people within the organisations I worked in whilst undertaking the apprenticeship were so interested in finding out more for future employees who may be interested. On our course, there was such a mixed age range which was so positive. It shows that people were upskilling and reskilling, all whilst working. So my ask of you today is to share this blog with your network – let’s ensure that everyone is aware of the different apprenticeship pathways available to them. So, if like me, you feel lost, you’re aware of the opportunities available to you.

4.       Describe something you learned about yourself doing your apprenticeship?

I learnt so much about myself during my apprenticeship. I’ve already touched on the fact it taught me to be organised and manage deadlines, but it also showed me how resilient I am as an individual. I was able to manage deadlines, complete various tasks and ‘spin lots of plates.’ Something else that I learnt was that whilst I appear a very confident individual when it comes to writing, I self-sabotage. I dreaded submitting essays, asking friends and family to read them repeatedly. Whilst my writing wasn’t brilliant, I still did well. I shone at presentations and presenting in group activities which just highlights, we cannot be good at everything.

Apprenticeships are a learning curve in multiple senses. Not only do you learn about the subjects, you learn about yourself and you learn about others. You learn that in group projects, everyone has a fundamental part to play.

5.       What is your role now and how did your apprenticeship help prepare you for it?

 I have transitioned through four roles whilst undertaking the graduate apprenticeship. This time last year, I moved from UoE where I worked at the Bayes Centre and centred my dissertation around ‘Ways of Working prior to and post pandemic for UoE staff,’ to Scottish Financial Enterprise. For my first 10 weeks at SFE, I was fortunate enough to be given time to finish off my dissertation, which was submitted in July 2022.

In December, I graduated with an Upper class 2.1 in Business Management from Heriot Watt University. I had completed this degree whilst working – it felt incredible.

There were a proliferation of transferable skills that I learnt during my apprenticeship that I could implement into my work. One of which was the importance of attention to detail – whether that be grammatically, with a statistic or how you present an image or graphic, it can make such a difference. I loved project management at university and it is so applicable to my events and relationship role. I would recommend the graduate apprenticeship route to anyone.