“My apprenticeship has set me in really good stead for what I may face in my professional life and I’m really excited about it!”
BUSINESS ADMIN APPRENTICE | ALDERMORE
In this case study Rory Higgs, Business Administration Apprentice at Aldermore Bank, tells us about his experience.
What is your job title?
I am currently working as a Specialist Finance Executive with the Specialist Finance team at Aldermore Bank.
Why did you decide to do an apprenticeship?
I decided to do an apprenticeship because I wanted to learn and work at the same time. I think that completing an apprenticeship is something everybody should consider as you are exposed to a real working environment, surrounded by experienced professionals who help you achieve in both your apprenticeship and also your career. I have been lucky to work with some amazing people at Aldermore and wouldn’t have changed any part of my training.
What sort of activities did you do in your role whilst you were on the apprenticeship?
I completed a really wide range of activities, ranging from raising legal documents for our sales team to building prospective clients ledgers to our system. I was able to rotate around the business in a number of key areas, meaning that I was able to gain exposure to so many different job roles which was amazing.
What have you enjoyed most about your apprenticeship?
I would say there are two things that really stand out for me. I really enjoyed working on my end-point assessment and my process improvement project as this allowed me to take on the role of a project manager and deliver a process improvement from end to end which was a great experience. I also enjoyed the presenting of my portfolio which was really good practice for me. I delivered my portfolio in an interview style zoom meeting and really enjoyed showcasing all of my work.
How was your training with Damar?
My training with Damar has been a positive experience, especially considering Coronavirus disrupted my course at an important stage! I was supported wherever needed and knew that my trainer was only an email or phone call away! The sessions I completed with my trainer were really well-delivered and enjoyable and always interactive which meant the content was really easy to understand.
What do you think your biggest achievement has been as an apprentice?
My biggest achievement without doubt is being offered a permanent role at the closing stages of my apprenticeship. All the hard work I put in whilst completing my apprenticeship, to work my day role and also put in enough time and effort into my portfolio to achieve a distinction is something I can take great pride in. I’ve learned so much and have developed as a person in so many ways and I’m thankful to Damar and Aldermore for that!
What do you think you have contributed to your organisation during your apprenticeship?
One of the biggest contributions I have made to my organisation would be the process improvement I completed. I designed, built and delivered training on a new payment process which was amazing to be a part of. I designed the form so that it could be signed electronically rather than having to print a physical copy of a form and sign it using a “wet” signature. That project was crucial because of the pandemic and everybody being forced to work remotely. The improvement allowed our processes to continue throughout the pandemic so that we could support all of our customer and clients.
What are your career plans now you’ve finished your apprenticeship?
I plan to continue learning as much as possible as I am still only 21. I intend to climb the career ladder at Aldermore and see how high I can reach. My apprenticeship has set me in really good stead for what I may face in my professional life and I’m really excited about it!