Search
Contact
Apprenticeship Vacancies
Make an enquiry
Search
Contact
Apprenticeship Vacancies
We caught up with Claire Roberts from St Matthew’s Catholic Primary School, part of the Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust, to hear about her experience completing the School Business Professional Level 5 apprenticeship with us at Access Training.
From balancing a full-time role and studying alongside bringing up her young child, to gaining the knowledge and confidence to take on greater responsibility, Claire shares what she learned from the apprenticeship, the support she received and her advice for anyone considering the same pathway.
How do you feel having completed your apprenticeship?
I’m super proud of myself for completing this apprenticeship alongside a full time job, being pregnant and bringing up my young toddler.
Why did you choose the School Business Professional Level 5 apprenticeship?
I chose to do the apprenticeship not only to support me in being the best in my current role but also for career progression opportunities.
What were the most valuable things you learned?
Understanding how my role fits into the bigger picture.
How has the apprenticeship changed how you feel in your role?
Now I have gained much more knowledge in key knowledge areas, I feel I’m ready to take on more responsibility within my organisation as I have the knowledge to support this.
What challenges did you face, and how did you manage them?
My biggest challenge was balancing full time work, studying and bringing up my young child. By having a clear routine for studying (with the support from my husband) I was able to ensure I gave my apprenticeship the time needed to complete the relevant activities, reading and studying.
What support did you receive from the school and training provider?
I was very grateful to my Headteacher and School Business Manager for giving me the time I needed to attend the apprenticeship sessions. They both included me on many different aspects of school life including meetings, projects and giving me extra responsibility to push me in my apprenticeship.
What advice would you give to someone thinking about this apprenticeship?
My biggest piece of advice would be to be organised. Balancing work life and studying is not easy but by being organised and ensuring set time each week helped me to ensure I was able to keep on top of my apprenticeship. I would also say that it’s important to be open and honest with your line manager to ensure they can offer the right support when needed.
What are you most looking forward to when you return from maternity leave?
When I return from maternity leave I’m most looking forward to returning to my current and using the knowledge I have gained in my apprenticeship to support me in my role. Once I’m settled back in, I’ll be looking forward to the next career opportunity that arises.
Claire’s experience shows how an apprenticeship can support both professional development and longer-term career progression, while allowing learning to be applied directly in the workplace.
If you’d like to find out more about the School Business Professional Level 5 apprenticeship and how it could support your school or organisation, get in touch with our team to discuss the next steps.
Gateshead-based Access Training provides upskilling courses and apprenticeships in HR, project management, team leading and management, accountancy, business administration, learning & skills teaching, and fire, emergency & security systems.
We have been delivering training programmes for businesses and individuals across the North East for over 40 years. We have a genuine interest in the success of the companies we work with and the people we train, and we aim to provide a personal, bespoke service.
For Olivia Davies, an apprenticeship was always going to be her preferred route into the world of work.
After finishing her GCSEs at Lord Lawson of Beamish Academy, Olivia knew that staying on at school wasn’t for her. Instead, she wanted to start building her career through practical experience — and she followed a path that had already worked for someone very close to home.
Olivia’s mum, Julia, completed a Business Administration apprenticeship with Access Training around 30 years earlier, before going on to build a career in recruitment. She encouraged Olivia to consider the same route.
It turned out to be a good recommendation.
At 16, Olivia was initially interviewed by Access Training for a Business Administration apprenticeship with one of its employer partners. However, during the recruitment process, the team recognised that Olivia could be a great fit for Access itself and offered her an apprenticeship within the Business Development and Marketing team.
Her role gave her the opportunity to develop her own skills while also supporting other young people looking for their first step into the workplace.Olivia’s responsibilities included screening applications, matching candidates with suitable vacancies and arranging interviews with employers.
For someone who had recently been in the same position herself, being able to communicate with other apprenticeship candidates was a natural fit.“A key responsibility I have is communicating with candidates, which I love because I consider myself a people person, but also because I’ve been in their shoes.”
Alongside her workplace responsibilities, Olivia worked towards her Level 3 Business Administrator Apprenticeship. Rather than simply learning about administration in a classroom, Olivia was able to put her learning into practice every day. From using new software and applications to communicating with learners and employers, her role gave her the opportunity to build a broad range of workplace skills from the beginning of her career.
“I’ve learnt so much already, using new software and applications, and I’m acquiring new skills every single day.”
While Olivia followed a route first taken by her mum, her apprenticeship has been about building her own career and gaining the experience she wanted from the start. She was clear that she wanted to move straight into employment after her GCSEs and develop through practical experience.
“I always wanted to go straight into the world of work. Staying on at school didn’t interest me.”
Her apprenticeship has given her the opportunity to do exactly that — gaining a recognised qualification while developing skills, experience and confidence in a real working environment. And there is something particularly fitting about Olivia now helping other young people take their own first steps into apprenticeships, just as she did herself.
An apprenticeship can give you the chance to gain a qualification while developing practical skills and experience in the workplace.
Explore Access Training’s apprenticeship opportunities and find out where your journey could take you.
Gateshead-based Access Training provides upskilling courses and apprenticeships in HR, project management, team leading and management, accountancy, business administration, learning & skills teaching, and fire, emergency & security systems.
We have been delivering training programmes for businesses and individuals across the North East for over 40 years. We have a genuine interest in the success of the companies we work with and the people we train, and we aim to provide a personal, bespoke service.
Starting a new career can be challenging at any stage of life. For Anarita Lopes, moving to the UK, raising three children and working full-time were already part of her journey when she decided to take the next step towards a career in accountancy.
Anarita joined Home Group as a Level 4 Accountancy apprentice, combining her role within the organisation with weekly study at Access Training.
The apprenticeship gave her the opportunity to continue developing her accountancy qualifications while gaining valuable experience within a large organisation.
Originally from Cape Verde, Anarita had lived in France and Portugal before moving to the UK. Alongside raising her three boys and working full-time, she studied at Newcastle College and the University of Sunderland before applying for an accountancy apprenticeship with Home Group.
The apprenticeship offered Anarita something different from studying alone: the opportunity to put her learning into practice while developing her career within a real finance team.
“The Home Group Accountancy apprenticeship has made a huge difference to me. The one day a week study at Access Training for the AAT Level 4 qualification is the next stage in my accountancy qualifications, but the difference is I’m able to learn whilst understanding how a large organisation works from the inside.”
As a Level 4 apprentice, Anarita was able to combine classroom-based learning at Access Training with practical experience at Home Group. This gave her the opportunity to develop technical accountancy skills while gaining an understanding of how finance operates within a large organisation. For Anarita, the combination of learning and work experience was an important part of building her confidence and developing her career. Rather than having to choose between gaining a qualification and gaining experience, her apprenticeship allowed her to do both at the same time.
Anarita’s journey demonstrates how apprenticeships can support people who are already balancing work, family and other commitments, while helping them develop the specialist skills needed to progress their careers. Her Level 4 Accountancy apprenticeship formed the next stage of her professional development, building on the qualifications and experience she had already gained. It also gave her the opportunity to develop her skills within a well-established organisation, putting her learning into practice from day one.
You don’t have to be starting your career from scratch to benefit from an apprenticeship.
Whether you’re looking to develop existing skills, retrain for a new career or gain a recognised qualification while working, an apprenticeship can provide a practical route to progression.
Find out more about Access Training’s accountancy apprenticeships and the pathways available at different levels.
Gateshead-based Access Training provides upskilling courses and apprenticeships in HR, project management, team leading and management, accountancy, business administration, learning & skills teaching, and fire, emergency & security systems.
We have been delivering training programmes for businesses and individuals across the North East for over 40 years. We have a genuine interest in the success of the companies we work with and the people we train, and we aim to provide a personal, bespoke service.
When Olivia Pringle, 20, started her Level 3 Business Administrator Apprenticeship with youth development charity NE Youth, she had the opportunity to build practical skills while gaining valuable experience in the workplace.
With a role covering a wide range of administrative responsibilities, Olivia’s apprenticeship gave her the chance to develop skills that could be put into practice every day.
NE Youth’s administration needs are broad, from general office duties and reception to invoicing, communication and report writing. This made the Business Administrator apprenticeship a good fit for both Olivia and the organisation.Alongside her workplace experience, Olivia completed off-the-job training with Access Training, developing her knowledge and skills across the wider Business Administration standard.
The updated apprenticeship covers areas including quality assurance, report writing, managing and implementing change, and coaching and mentoring, giving apprentices the opportunity to develop a broad set of skills relevant to modern businesses.
Olivia was also given the opportunity to get involved in a major project for NE Youth, supporting an event involving the charity’s young ambassador and singer Channy. The experience gave Olivia the chance to apply her developing administrative and organisational skills in a real workplace setting, while taking on responsibility as part of a project with a wider purpose. For NE Youth, the apprenticeship provided an opportunity to bring new talent into the organisation while supporting Olivia to develop the skills needed for her role.
“Our admin requirements are very broad – from general office tasks, to invoicing, to reception duties, to communication, to report writing and the new apprenticeship standard is working very well for us – and for Olivia.”— Gemma Lockyer Turnbull, Head of Operations, NE Youth
Olivia’s apprenticeship has given her the opportunity to develop a broad range of Business Administration skills while gaining experience that can be applied directly in the workplace.
Her story shows how an apprenticeship can provide more than a qualification — it can give learners the chance to take on real responsibilities, contribute to an organisation and build valuable workplace experience from the start of their career.
Whether you’re looking to start your career or develop the skills of someone already in your organisation, our Business Administration apprenticeships combine practical workplace experience with structured training and support.
Gateshead-based Access Training provides upskilling courses and apprenticeships in HR, project management, team leading and management, accountancy, business administration, learning & skills teaching, and fire, emergency & security systems.
We have been delivering training programmes for businesses and individuals across the North East for over 40 years. We have a genuine interest in the success of the companies we work with and the people we train, and we aim to provide a personal, bespoke service.
For Phoebe Armstrong, the Covid-19 pandemic gave her the opportunity to take a step back and think about what she wanted from her career. Having previously worked in a hair salon, she decided to explore a future in business – starting with a Business Administration qualification before going on to secure an apprenticeship with TT2.
Today, Phoebe has completed her Level 3 HR apprenticeship and has progressed into a permanent role as an Internal Communications Assistant at TT2.
Phoebe, 25, from North Tyneside, had been working in a hair salon when she was furloughed during the pandemic. Rather than seeing the time away from work as a setback, Phoebe used it as an opportunity to consider what she wanted to do next. She completed a government-funded Business Administration qualification, which helped her take her first steps towards a career in business. That experience led Phoebe to secure an apprenticeship with TT2, giving her the opportunity to continue learning while gaining practical experience in the workplace.For Phoebe, the combination of earning a qualification, gaining experience and being paid while learning was a key part of choosing an apprenticeship.
“I wanted to gain a qualification in something I was interested in, whilst also gaining experience and knowledge of the job and being paid.”
Phoebe went on to complete an 18-month Level 3 HR apprenticeship with Access Training while working at TT2. The apprenticeship gave her the chance to develop her understanding of HR while seeing first-hand how the function supports an organisation and its people.
It also helped Phoebe develop personally, particularly when it came to her confidence.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed my apprenticeship experience from start to finish. It really opened my eyes to the world of HR and how an organisation works internally.”
“I was encouraged to push myself out of my comfort zone on a regular basis and this has really helped to grow my confidence.”
For Phoebe, the experience was about more than gaining a qualification. It helped her understand where she wanted her career to go and gave her the experience and confidence to take her next step.
After completing her apprenticeship, Phoebe progressed into a permanent position at TT2 as an Internal Communications Assistant. Her journey demonstrates how an apprenticeship can be part of a wider career pathway – giving people the opportunity to build their skills, gain experience and progress into new roles.
For Phoebe, it has been a significant change from where her career began. From working in a hair salon, to exploring business administration, to completing an HR apprenticeship and progressing into a communications role, her journey shows that career paths do not always follow a straight line.
Having experienced the benefits of combining learning with real workplace experience, Phoebe would encourage others to consider an apprenticeship when planning their next career move.
“To anyone thinking about doing an apprenticeship, I’d say definitely go for it! It won’t be something you regret.”
Whether you are leaving school, changing career or looking to build on your existing experience, an apprenticeship can give you the opportunity to gain a recognised qualification while developing practical skills in the workplace.
Explore our apprenticeship opportunities and find out where your next step could take you.
Gateshead-based Access Training provides upskilling courses and apprenticeships in HR, project management, team leading and management, accountancy, business administration, learning & skills teaching, and fire, emergency & security systems.
We have been delivering training programmes for businesses and individuals across the North East for over 40 years. We have a genuine interest in the success of the companies we work with and the people we train, and we aim to provide a personal, bespoke service.
When Katie Wilkinson decided that A Levels weren’t the right path for her, she knew she wanted to take a more practical route into work.
At just 17, Katie started her first apprenticeship with Age UK Gateshead, supported by Access Training. What started as a Business Administration apprenticeship went on to become the beginning of a much bigger career journey.
Katie enjoyed maths at school but found that traditional A Level study wasn’t for her. An apprenticeship offered her the opportunity to gain a qualification while building practical experience in the workplace.
Her first apprenticeship was in Business Administration, where she worked across different areas of Age UK Gateshead.“Working across many departments has been so interesting and really helped me get fully under the skin of the business. No two days have ever been the same and it is that variety that I love so much.”
That experience introduced Katie to different parts of the organisation and helped her discover where she wanted her career to go next.
She went on to complete a Level 3 Social Media and Digital Marketing Apprenticeship before returning to her interest in finance.
During her first apprenticeship, Katie had the opportunity to get involved in some of the organisation’s finance activities. It was through this experience that she realised accountancy could be the career she wanted to pursue.
She began her third apprenticeship, studying for her AAT Level 3 Assistant Accountant qualification while continuing to work at Age UK Gateshead.
Her growing skills and experience led to Katie taking on a new role as Finance Officer, where she was responsible for a range of day-to-day financial activities, including petty cash management, payroll, finance software and budgeting.
For Katie, being able to learn while gaining experience in a real workplace has been an important part of her development.
“Now onto apprenticeship three and I’m on course to fulfil my dream of one day becoming an accountant.”
Katie’s journey demonstrates how an apprenticeship doesn’t have to mean choosing your entire career from day one.
Her first apprenticeship gave her experience across the organisation, her second allowed her to develop her digital and marketing skills, and her third is helping her build the specialist knowledge she needs for a future in accountancy.
Each step has helped Katie understand her strengths, discover what she enjoys and move closer to her long-term career goal.“I feel really lucky that Age UK Gateshead is helping me realise my ambition – it is such a meaningful organisation and one that also really cares about my future development.”
Gateshead-based Access Training provides upskilling courses and apprenticeships in HR, project management, team leading and management, accountancy, business administration, learning & skills teaching, and fire, emergency & security systems.
We have been delivering training programmes for businesses and individuals across the North East for over 40 years. We have a genuine interest in the success of the companies we work with and the people we train, and we aim to provide a personal, bespoke service.
Hear from Kaylee, who has progressed through her accountancy apprenticeship journey with Access Training — from Level 2, to Level 3, and now onto her Level 4 Professional Accounting Technician apprenticeship. In this Q&A, Kaylee shares how her apprenticeship has helped her develop new skills, build confidence and take on more responsibility in the workplace, as well as her experience of balancing learning alongside her role. She also shares her advice for employers considering an apprenticeship and for anyone thinking about taking the next step in their career.
Develop skilled finance professionals through industry-recognised finance apprenticeships. Strengthen your workforce, build internal talent, and create a pipeline of future finance leaders.
