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Apprentice of the Year

 

Total People is a Centre of Vocational Excellence

 

 

 

	Work-based training makes you expand and learn new things, it’s very flexible and there’s lots of support if you need it

Sarah Holt has been working at Temps in Crewe for the last four years.

“I’m a Recruitment Consultant,” she explains. “I do the meeting and greeting, interview potential workers and deal with our clients. It’s very busy and varied and I love it”.

When Sarah first started her job, one of her colleagues was partway through a qualification with Total People. “My boss suggested that I do the same,” explains Sarah. “So I met with a Total People Training Adviser and enrolled on the Level 2 Customer Service qualification, which I’ve now completed. I’m now close to finishing the Level 3”.

Sarah has had no problems in combining work-based learning with her job. “I cope well with the combination,” she says. “I’d definitely recommend this route to other people; the good thing about it is that you pick up things that you otherwise wouldn’t have known. Work-based training makes you expand and learn new things, it’s very flexible and there’s lots of support if you need it”.

Sarah intends to carry on learning once she has completed this qualification. “It’s such an excellent way of getting qualifications,” she explains. “I certainly couldn’t afford to go back to college so the combination of learning while still earning is fantastic. I’d like to do a Management qualification next – I think that personal development is key to achieving your future goals”.

What is an Apprenticeship?

An apprenticeship is a work-based learning programme designed to give you the skills and knowledge needed to develop your prospects and career in the industry. Achieving a Customer Service qualification will give you valuable skills that can be transferred to any vocational area. To enable you to demonstrate that you can meet the national standards you will be trained in areas such as Dealing with Difficult Customers, Improving the Reliability of your Customer Service and Solving Customer Problems. To be a Customer Service Professional, you need to have excellent communication skills, enjoy dealing with people and be able to use your initiative to solve customer problems.

How do I find an Apprenticeship?

The first thing you need to do is to find a job. Customer Service Apprenticeships are work-based which means you need to be employed before you can start your training.

There are many places you can go to find a job; Connexions, local papers, internet job sites, and Job Centre Plus. You can even try friends and family to see if they know anybody who may have a vacancy.

Once you have gained employment contact Total People!

What happens then?

Total People will send one of their Training Advisers out to you. They will sit down with both yourself and your employer to arrange your learning plan.

Your training may require you to attend one of Total People’s Training Centres. Your employer will give you time off to attend your classes and meet with your Training Adviser.

How long will it take?

The time taken to completing your NVQ depends upon you; how quickly you want to do it. However it normally takes around 12 - 18 months to complete.

The Technical Certificate is delivered alongside the NVQ via workbooks.

The other element of your Apprenticeship, Key Skills, takes around 12 months to complete, but again is dependant upon you!

Completing your Apprenticeship

Your Customer Service Apprenticeship is made up from 3 core elements;

• NVQ
• Technical Certificate
• Key Skills

Your NVQ portfolio is like a work diary, it records your activities and experiences. Your portfolio is assessed to make sure you are competent. Your work will be assessed at your place of work.

The Technical Certificate gives you the underpinning knowledge needed to carry out the tasks of your NVQ.

Key Skills are similar to Maths and English GCSEs however, learning is focussed around Customer Service. For example, you may be asked to analyse data regarding your customers!

Further Progression

Being qualified will open many doors to you. You will be able to show your employer that, along with being qualified, you have also shown commitment, dedication and professionalism. This could lead to promotion, higher rates of pay, and even managerial opportunities.

Many apprentices decide to progress their education through professional qualifications like ONCs, HNCs, and even degrees.

 

 

 

 

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