What were your expectations when you started the course?
As I had no previous experience of working in an office environment, I hoped the course would give me a good understanding of the different roles within business administration and the tasks involved within those roles.

What were your job prospects before the course and where did you see yourself?
I was unemployed after leaving university and I was looking for a full time, Monday-Friday position to fit in with my family commitments. I have previously worked in retail which was not compatible with family life and was something I did not want to return to. I realised a job in administration would be ideal for me, but I was unsure how to gain employment in this area.

What did you believe was stopping you from gaining employment?
I thought my lack of office-based experience would make it difficult for me gain employment in an administration role. I was not very confident with IT systems, I had the basic skills, but not much experience using spreadsheets. I had not worked full time for many years and was worried that my family might not adjust to the routine.

What did you gain from the course and did it exceed your expectations?
I achieved a Level 1 BTEC Certificate in Business Administration. The units I studied included; Creating Business Documents, Job Opportunities in Business Administration and Using Office Equipment in a Business Environment. The course allowed me to fully understand what is involved in an administration role. I became aware that I had gained administration experience from tasks carried out in previous jobs without even realising and as a result, this gave me confidence in my abilities. After the course I was given the option to return to NLTG (North Lancs Training Group) for two weeks on work experience. During the first week on my course, I was invited to have an interview for a full-time role in the Apprenticeship Service Engagement Team (ASET) at NLTG. I was successful and started the job the following week. I could not believe how quickly my circumstances had changed. I was so happy and could not wait to start.

Please can you explain your current role at NLTG and any future career plans?
I am currently employed at NLTG as an ASET (Apprenticeship Service Engagement Team) Support Officer. My role consists of financial administration duties for government funded Apprenticeships, and the contributions paid by employers towards Apprenticeship training. This includes checking and processing Employer Agreements, invoicing, processing payments, monitoring and collecting outstanding payments and updating databases and spreadsheets. I have also been given the opportunity to start an IT Apprenticeship at NLTG. In the future, I would like to stay at NLTG but if not, I am grateful for the opportunity to gain experience and a qualification that will allow me to pursue a career in administration elsewhere.