Meet the Apprentices - Meet Jade Read, East Suffolk Council

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 started my apprenticeship journey at East Suffolk Council in September 2018 as a Communities Apprentice.

After completing my A-Levels I was unsure of what route to take next. There are so many opportunities available for young people now that I personally found it harder to choose what I wanted to do. I am so glad I went down the route I chose, it’s the best decision I have ever made.

I thought an apprenticeship would suit me because it allowed me to get straight into the world of work whilst also academically learning on the job and getting an additional qualification.

Being an apprentice within Local Government has been incredible. Due to the range of teams within the Council, I have been able to hone a vast range of transferrable skills that I will use throughout my career.

Throughout my apprenticeship I had the most supportive colleagues and they really made my apprenticeship. They encouraged me to challenge myself and this has enabled me to see a huge difference in the person I am now compared to when I started.

After my apprenticeship and achieving a Level 3 qualification in Business Administration, I was successful in securing a post as a Communities Assistant within my team and this has allowed my career to grow even further. I look forward to coming into work each day and that is due to working for a great employer and having supportive and caring team members around me.

I would strongly recommend anyone to do an apprenticeship. If you are unsure of what you want to do for your career, do an apprenticeship – I promise you won’t regret it!

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.