I left school at the end of 5th year in 2015 and joined the Scottish Parliament in August that doing an apprenticeship in Business & Administration. Working and being involved in a fantastic organisation such as the Scottish Parliament on a daily basis gave me the encouragement to complete my SVQ qualification. It inspired me to apply for a permanent post at Holyrood, which I was successful in doing.
Why did you choose to do an apprenticeship at the Scottish Parliament?
During 5th year I realised it was time for me to leave. Throughout school I never thought about an apprenticeship. The idea of continuing to study at a college or university didn't appeal to me; I wanted something more where I could gain experience, continue to learn, get a qualification and also get a feel for the “world of work”. Modern Studies, Politics and Business were subjects of interest to me so when I saw an advert for the Parliament’s Apprenticeship Programme, it was definitely something that appealed to me.
I would highly recommend the Scottish Parliament Apprenticeship to anyone interested. It has been an outstanding experience with many incredible opportunities.
What do you do in your current role?
I currently work in the Committee Office with the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee (REC). I support arrangements for committee meetings and I liaise with MSPs, witnesses and other stakeholders. I draft agendas, minutes and manage correspondence and written evidence, and deal with enquiries from witnesses or members of the public. I am also responsible for updating the committee’s website and twitter feed.
Do you have any future aspirations?
At the moment, I am very content with my current role but I look forward to further challenges and experiences that come my way. There are many teams and opportunities within the Scottish Parliament which makes me extremely excited for how my career will develop in the future.