Each day during #NAW2020 we will be introducing you to inspirational apprentices and rising stars, working in Local Government in the East of England, who blaze their own trail.
I am currently working as planning officer for Braintree District Council, which I started in April 2019. When applying for the role, I was aware that I would have the opportunity to study for an MSc in Town Planning alongside my job role.
Following on from starting my role, I was encouraged to apply for the degree, and fortunately the degree apprenticeship was introduced for September starters. I have found that this method has benefits for myself and my employer, as the path to become a professional within planning is supported throughout the degree and after.
The apprenticeship style delivery offers more structure to the process. I currently attend university once a week for lectures and balance my work around this. My manager is supportive and understanding in reflecting my workload with my reduced time in the office. The degree is challenging and does require a lot of commitment, however the sense of achievement from completing modules and the opportunities it will give me are invaluable.
Apprenticeships give the opportunity to look beyond traditional routes into employment and allow you to explore a diverse range of career options in local government and beyond. Our #NAW2020 feature provides just a small taster of the true value that an apprenticeship can bring, to both individuals, local authorities and the wider community in the East of England.