Izzy’s a receptionist of distinction
As partners within the Swatpro group of training providers, Train4All are well aware of the importance of apprenticeships and the skills apprenticeships impart.
So, it’s unsurprising that the Somerton-based construction and engineering specialists latest apprentice success story comes from within their own ranks.
Izzy Rivers joined Train4All when she left school in 2020 and shortly thereafter began a Level 2 Customer Services apprenticeship.
“I had decided that I didn’t want to continue studying at college, but I wanted to work and learn at the same time. This opportunity was ideal,” she recalls.
Izzy’s job involves reception and phone duties at the training company’s base, and she says the skills, knowledge and behaviours she learned during the apprenticeship have been invaluable.
“It teaches best practice: How to speak and deal professionally with customers and other inquiries, even how to deal with the occasional difficult client,” she says.
“It is good for your confidence. It certainly boosted mine!”
Izzy’s apprenticeship was mentored and supervised by Swatpro Academy’s Stacy Harrall-Phillips.
“Stacy was such a good tutor. I really learned a lot from her,” Izzy enthuses.
“It was tough during lockdown, because I was furloughed, but the apprenticeship learning continued through Microsoft Teams meetings then from September Stacy came to see me every 3 to 4 weeks to prepare me for my End Point Assessment.”
Izzy, who is 18, remembers being quite nervous before the question-and-answer session of the EPA, but Stacy reassured her and, in the end, she found the experience - also delivered over MS Teams - not as daunting as she feared.
“I soon relaxed and was able to answer questions around what I had learned,” she says.
The assessors obviously liked her answers, because Izzy got a distinction in her apprenticeship, and she has now gone on to study for a level 3 Business Administration apprenticeship, which is also being mentored and assessed by Swatpro Academy.
“Train4All have decided to take on a new receptionist and I will be supervising him or her, so this new course will teach me management skills,” she explains.
Her aim is to continue up the apprenticeship ladder to at least a Level 4, and eventually use the skills and management know-how she has acquired to help run her family’s farm, which is near the central Somerset town.
So, what is her advice to would-be apprentices?
“Go for it! I definitely recommend the apprenticeship route. It has given me the skills I need to work well and was interesting at the same time.
“And, of course, I was working, not accumulating debts. That’s a big advantage!”
For all our current Apprenticeship vacancies, check our website.
