Facilities manager Tom Smith in
the plant room at Perceval House
APPRENTICESHIPS
Amrita said. “After not enjoying
business studies at sixth form I went
to college to study health and social
care, but dropped out half-way through
because I realised it was not what I
wanted to do either. I then came across
the Ealing Council apprenticeships and
noticed they had one in revenues. I
knew this was to do with numbers so it
would be ideal for me.”
After gaining qualifications in
business administration and successfully
completing her apprenticeship, a job
became available.
“I always tell young
people to do an
apprenticeship because
it’s a great opportunity.”
“Luckily, after one-and-a-half years
of being an apprentice, there was a job
vacant in my team to become a corporate
collections assistant,” said Amrita. “I did
this for two years and then got promoted
to a customer accounts officer. I am
currently going to college part-time in the
evenings studying accountancy. After this
I am hoping to continue this journey and
become a chartered accountant.
“I always tell young people to
do an apprenticeship because it’s a
great opportunity.”
TOM’S STORY
“Whilst at school I was never really
too sure what I wanted to be,” said
Tom Smith, who has risen from being
an apprentice to becoming a facilities
manager for the council. “As I got
older, the realisation that I wasn’t
going to be a footballer, let alone the
next Ronaldo, sadly dawned on me,
and I then looked more
to getting involved with
working in the leisure industry from a
business perspective.
“When I left school I went on to
sixth form but, after just a few months,
I realised being sat in a classroom
when I wasn’t compelled to be there
wasn’t for me and maybe my slight
impatience of wanting to get out and
start a career led to me leaving and
getting an apprenticeship.
“I went to an open day in Ealing
Town Hall with a friend and, as they
say, the rest is history. I became
an apprentice for the council’s
property services from 2008-2010
and gained qualifications in business
administration and various other skills.
“Once I finished my apprenticeship I
worked my way through the ranks at a
company contracting for the council and I
became a deputy estates manager at the
age of 19. After a few years doing this I
moved back to working directly for the
council and was promoted to facilities
manager, the job I always wanted
when I started my apprenticeship:
Overseeing facilities at libraries, parks
and community centres.”
MORE INFO
■
Call 020 8825 6234
■
Email apprenticeships@
ealing.gov.uk
■
Visit www.ealing.gov.uk/
apprenticeships
HOW TO APPLY
Current vacancies, eligibility
criteria, and application forms are
available at www.ealing.gov.uk/
apprenticeships
Opening date for applications:
1 September
Closing date for applications:
30 September
Screening workshops:
20 and 22 October
Interviews: From 2 November
Apprenticeship starts from
January 2016
around ealing
Summer 2015
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