Meet Emma Kelly who is a Business Development Manager at Kent, in January 2018 Emma started the Level 6, Chartered Manager Apprenticeship.
Loretta Izod, Employee Apprenticeship Manager at Kent, asked Emma to talk about the experience of undertaking an Apprenticeship and how it supports career and self development.
How did your career pathway bring you to the University of Kent, what is your position here and how long have you worked here?
Prior to working for Kent, I worked in partnership with them, referring companies to Kent’s apprenticeship provision. My role at Kent is Business Development Manager for the Centre for Higher and Degree Apprenticeships, and I have been here just over 2 years.
How did you find out about this Apprenticeship?
I have worked with apprenticeships for many years, including working with the National Apprenticeship Service as one of their ‘Apprenticeship Champions’. I have a vast array of knowledge in different apprenticeships. I was involved in the design of this apprenticeship scheme at the University of Kent, and promote this to new and existing employers across the country.
Which Apprenticeship are you under taking and which training provider is supporting you?
Centre for Higher and Degree Apprenticeships at the University of Kent.
Why have you decided to use an Apprenticeship to support you’re self and career development?
I would like to achieve a formal qualification linked to my role, and the Chartered Manager Apprenticeship mapped well to the many areas of my role at CHDA. I have always wanted to work towards a degree and being able to study, upskill myself and work at the same time is fantastic.
Can you explain how your Apprenticeship works, eg what sort of training do you? Who is your mentor?
My apprenticeship is delivered via blended learning, with the majority distance learning, but I attend university every year for 1 week for summer schools. My mentor is Dr Scott Wildman
How did you find the relevant information you needed to decide if an Apprenticeship was for you?
This is part of my role, so I have the knowledge to know where to go to find the additional information, and to decide if it was in fact the right one for me.
Emma says “I am thoroughly enjoying my learning. It can be challenging at times to balance study and a career, but I think the course complements my work and I am able to use my knowledge from the course in my day to day role.
KBS staff are very supportive as are the team at CHDA. I am surprised how much I have completed to date and look forward to the further challenge in future months and years. Thank you Kent for making it possible!”
If you would you like to know more about Apprenticeship and undertake one like Emma, please contact Loretta Izod, your Employee Apprenticeship Manager
Ext 16568 or email – L.J.Izod@kent.ac.uk or Click here to visit the Kent Apprenticeships web page
Follow the Learning & Organisational Development (L&OD)Team for our regular posts all things Apprenticeship and L&OD on our
Twitter @UoKLDev and Instagram Unikentlearndev accounts
