At the core of everything we do here at Churchill is our three central virtues – Humility, Passion and a People First approach. They’re the catalysts behind the moves we make as a business and as a community, as well as offering guiding principles by which to conduct our day-to-day operations.
It’s these virtues that also propel our commitment towards providing opportunities and growth across our business and its various ventures. We’ve long operated under the mantra of “the right people in the right place”, and that’s especially true with our support of the varying apprenticeship programmes we support here at Churchill Support Services.
In honour of National Apprenticeship Week, and its associated theme of “Skills For Life”, we’ve taken the time to sit down with our range of apprentices (and former apprentices that have grown to become senior members of staff) to discuss their experiences, and how they’ve built the skills they need to succeed.
We’ve always held apprenticeships in high standing here at Churchill Support Services. We view them as an ideal way to get into your chosen field of employment, and an opportunity for us as a business to mold a new mind, and someone who’s passionate about what they do.
They’re a mutually beneficial agreement for everyone involved, and they feed directly into the universal culture that we’ve held since our inception back in 1996. Our apprentices have gone on to do so many incredible things, and their contributions help to shape the direction and growth we’ve seen over the course of those 27 years.
Not only are they integral to our fiscal and corporate successes, they’re a major contributor towards that keen sense of community we cultivate at Churchill. We’re proud to have retained many of those who’ve completed apprenticeships, and they’re all exceptional parts of everything we do.
From charity events to in-house celebrations, and fundraisers to festivities at Christmas, those who’ve completed an apprenticeship with us go on to do so much work that benefits the company and our colleagues on a wider basis.
Of course, we can wax lyrical about everyone who’s undergone an apprenticeship with us, but our words can only do so much justice to those individuals. Let’s hear from a cross-section of our apprentices and former apprentices, and their experiences with working at Churchill.
With a diverse workforce and a range of different departments, we’re proud to host many apprentices, both current and former. We’ll be taking just a sample today, with many more having already gone onto bright futures, or waiting in the wings for their next career step.
I’m currently in the process of completing a Level 2 AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians) apprenticeship here at Churchill Support Services, and I’m hoping to soon progress onto the Level 3 and Level 4 AAT qualifications.
My apprenticeship, while it’s naturally something I’m passionate about, has been amazing for giving me invaluable, practical experience. I’ve gotten the opportunity to learn on the job, from people who’ve got experience and expertise, and in an environment where I know I can go on to do fantastic things.
I’ve got big aspirations for the future, too. I’m hoping to progress into a more senior role in the financial world (ideally a managerial or directorial role), making exceptional use of the experience I’ve picked up across my apprenticeship here at Churchill.
I’m Fin, and I recently completed an apprenticeship in Business Administration here at Churchill. I’ve been with Churchill for over a year now, and it’s been an amazing decision to stay at the company. My apprenticeship taught me so much, and I’ve had ample opportunity to deploy those skills in a range of practical environments.
That’s something that’s only continued as I’ve gone on to bigger and better things as a Business Support Executive. I work in a team of former apprentices in Business Support, and we’ve all shared our experiences and knowledge, and continued to develop.
I’m aiming to carry that on in the future. My apprenticeship gave me the foundations and the basis I needed to get my current role, and I genuinely feel like it can take me further in anything I turn my hand to.
As a former business administration apprentice, I’ve found that Churchill has been the ideal place to continue developing and honing the skills I learned on my apprenticeship. It was a great way to kickstart those connections we all build when starting work for the first time, and to take my first steps into business.
What I found most rewarding about my business admin apprenticeship was the invaluable opportunity to gain new skills and knowledge within an actual work setting. The hands-on experience not only gave me practical insights, but also deepened my understanding of my future career, and where I want to take administrative work in the future.
My apprenticeship served as a stepping stone to my current position as a Business Support Executive. I am enthusiastic about utilising the skills and experiences I acquired during my apprenticeship to take my career further. I am highly motivated to achieve significant milestones in my professional journey.
While my apprenticeship was a Level 2 course in Customer Service, I can’t thank Churchill enough for the opportunities that course provided me with. I’ve been able to move into the career path that I’m truly passionate about, and that I want to progress in.
My apprenticeship gave me that initial opportunity to build relationships and get immersed in the working world, and laid the foundations for what’s quickly developed into a place and an environment that I truly feel valued.
That in turn has lead to me being able to progress into my capacity as a Mobile Response & Welfare Officer which I’m truly enjoying. All of those skills support me in that on a daily basis, and I’m so excited to see where the future will take me.
I started at Churchill almost 7 years ago now, and I wouldn’t change it for the world. My apprenticeship gave me that initial step into a world and a company that’s allowed me to constantly flourish, and to grow into the role I now have as a manager of a busy client relationship team.
Above all, though, my start as an apprentice gave me chance to gain a huge amount of hands-on experience and the chance to immerse myself in the working world. Before this, I’d not worked in an office environment, and the apprenticeship allowed me to do that, and to familiarise myself with the changing dynamics of the Churchill offices.
Now, as the Client Relationship Manager, I’ve been afforded an opportunity that very few people ever get, and I intend to take full advantage of it. I want to inspire others, and impart the advice and guidance that have seen me rise to the position I’m in now.
I’ve had a meteoric rise from my former position as a Level 2 Customer Service apprentice, and I know that my apprenticeship at Churchill has been a key catalyst in that. My apprenticeship provided me with the opportunity to learn the importance of customer service and the appropriate approach to handle diverse situations. This experience has equipped me with valuable skills in understanding and meeting customer needs effectively.
I had no direction in my career when I left school, and joining a business via an apprenticeship has massively contributed to my personal and professional success so far. Personally, I think this opportunity offers unmatched exposure, specifically from the day-to-day business operations, and exceeds any education you can get from colleges and universities.
I have seen the success of apprenticeships throughout my career at Churchill and can wholeheartedly say that the support from the Business is a key pillar in this process and I wouldn’t have got to where I am today without the support and direction from the team.
Our business is experiencing significant growth, which brings plenty of exciting opportunities. We strongly believe in development & career growth, investing in individuals who demonstrate their worth.
Choosing an apprenticeship seven years ago was undoubtedly the right decision for me, and it has proven to be the case for numerous others within our business. As we continue to grow as a business, the potential for personal development continuous to grow collectively so I’m excited to see what lies ahead.
I’m ideally positioned to talk about just how impactful and important in development an apprenticeship can be, and especially so here at Churchill. I began at the company almost 10 years ago, as a Business Administration apprentice, and have seen an unparalleled rise to my current directorial role.
An apprenticeship gave me the start I needed, and I’ve paid that back with hard work and an impassioned approach to everything I do. I got the opportunity to learn in the thick of it, and to build both substantial experience and a diverse range of skillsets that offered me so many avenues I could’ve chosen to pursue.
That’s where I truly discovered my career, and the path I’m on now. My apprenticeship kickstarted a still-ongoing enthusiasm for learning and development. In more recent years, I’ve completed an NVQ in Team Leading, along with numerous additional courses that have all been designed to improve my skills in leadership and management.
That’s led me to my latest educational venture – undertaking a Higher National Diploma In Business and Business Law, which is only set to elevate my capacity as a Group Director of Sales, and in the pivotal role I played in the Sales and Marketing teams.
Ultimately, though, choosing Churchill for my apprenticeship and subsequent development has been a choice I’d never change. I received so much support from everyone involved with the business at every level, especially people like our now-CEO John Melling and COO Andy Farley, who’ve both been instrumental in my growth to the director role.
Without their support, and the robust set of skills and expertise I developed over the course of my apprenticeship, I simply wouldn’t be in the seat I find myself in today.
Inspired by our apprentices and former apprentices? You’ll already have seen just how pivotal a role our company has played in helping our apprentices past and present to go onto achieve incredible things, either at this company or elsewhere.
We’re constantly seeking the next generation of professionals and impassioned people, and that’s an integral part of the apprenticeship schemes we take part in – we want you to progress, we want to provide you with the tools you need to achieve the successes you’re looking for, and we ultimately want you to do well in anything you choose to pursue.
Interested in taking part? We’re actively recruiting for several new apprentice positions, and we know you could be our next exceptional staff member. Check out our Recruitment page to discover our current opportunities, and to kickstart your career.
