As national Apprenticeship Week gets underway, two of our trainees have shared how apprenticeships are shaping their careers.
Ruby Jones, from Mold, and former ski champion Alex Davies, from Colwyn Bay, may have chosen different career paths – one in HR and the other in site management – but both are relishing the chance to earn and learn through their respective apprenticeships with us.
Ruby, 20, joined us as a human resources apprentice in January last year.
After completing her GCSEs at Argoed High School in Mynydd Isa, and A-levels at Coleg Cambria in Deeside, Ruby deferred a university place and took a year out to consider her career ambitions.
She said: “While studying for my A-Levels I applied and got a place at the University of York to study psychology but deferred my place as I was hoping to find a job in HR.”
After seeing her “perfect role” advertised with us, Ruby grasped her opportunity.
“It can be quite difficult getting into HR, as usually you either need certain qualifications or a minimum of two years’ experience,” she explained. “I knew I still wanted to continue my education, but I wanted to work and earn, so the apprenticeship Anwyl had to offer was perfect.”
Working alongside our senior HR team, Ruby has the benefit of learning from them, while also being given responsibility to work on everything from probationary reviews to onboarding new starters.
She added: “You will never have the same day in HR – but that’s what I enjoy most about it. Anwyl has a modern approach to people practice, with its focus on improving employee wellbeing, company culture and creating an inclusive space for everyone, which is important to me and amazing to be a part of.”
After completing level three of her Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) qualification, Ruby recently celebrated a promotion to HR coordinator and has also trained as a mental health first aider.
Alex, 22, is also pursuing an apprenticeship, which will see him gain an NVQ level three in site management, and a construction management qualification from Coleg Cambria. He is employed by us on our assistant site manager training programme, based on our Parc Bodafon development in Llandudno.
Prior to joining us, Alex was part of the Ysgol Eirias ski team, enjoying regular victories at the Welsh School's Skiing Championships. He then raced competitively for the Welsh Ski Squad across Europe, However, he always knew he wanted to pursue a career in construction to follow in his father's footsteps, who is also a housebuilder.
Alex said: “I’m an outdoors person, so when I was choosing my career path, I considered how I could combine physical work outdoors with an academic challenge. Having worked a lot with my dad previously I decided to look into the site management side of things and the apprenticeship route appealed to me.
“I like the variation of the role and the routine it brings. Before I started this career, I was a bit stuck. I didn’t have a routine but now I’ve filled that void. I’m up early and straight onto site. I check my emails, do my site rounds and then I’ll be either liaising with suppliers or contactors or working out on site. The role is constantly busy and there is never a dull moment.”
Both have some helpful guidance for those starting out in their careers and considering an apprenticeship.
Ruby said: “Go for it – it’s the perfect mix of education and hands on experience. I think when you’re trying to get into a specific department or industry, an apprenticeship is the perfect way to start, as you’re gaining invaluable experience in the workplace as well as gaining a qualification. In the future, I’d like to complete CIPD Level 5, and one day become a HR manager.”
Alex’s advice is to embrace the support of those around you. He added: “It’s a lot of work and a lot to juggle but learning how best to manage it is the key. At first, I found it stressful as there was so much going on, but my advice is to persevere and ask for help. Things will start to get easier as you find your feet and someone is always around for support.”
Alex believes homebuilding is an industry everyone can consider. “There are so many different job options and lifestyles available,” he added. “It’s just about finding the right one for you. I want to work my way up the ladder to an assistant site manager and then a site manager.”
For more on building a career with us visit https://careers.anwyl.co.uk/ or to discover where our latest homes can be found visit www.anwylhomes.co.uk.
