Case Study | Chris Gelens, Business Administration Apprentice

From Carer to Compliance Officer, Chris Gelens’ career path is on an upward trajectory – aided by apprenticeships! 

After a promotion to her first office job with Home Carers, Chris enrolled on the Level 2 Business Administration programme to gain some skills and build her confidence. 

Another promotion followed, this time to Compliance Officer, so Chris wanted to continue her education with the Level 3 Business Administrator apprenticeship. 

Now, as she approaches the end of the Level 3 programme, Chris is aiming for a management role. We spoke to her about her apprenticeship experiences so far. 
 

Talk us through your apprentice journey so far. 

I'd never done an office job before. I was a Senior Carer and then I got promoted to come into the office and I was like: “I don't know how you do a spreadsheet, I don't know how you do this!” 

I was taught a lot and then I said: “Are there any courses I can go on?” My manager at the time put me on the Level 2 Business Administration, thinking it would help with my job because I was the administrator at the time, and it did help me with my job. 

I got promoted to Compliance Officer so I asked to do my Level 3. They applied for the Level 3 for me and put me back with Total People again, and here we are! 
 

What was the reason for you wanting to continue with the Level 3 and what do you hope to get from it? 

I wanted to gain my knowledge, for starters. I enjoy doing courses.

I've always done my courses with Total People and they've been brilliant with me.

I want to eventually become a manager if I can but I know you've got to work your way up. 
 

What sort of skills are you learning and developing on the Level 3 and how are you applying them to your role? 

Like I said, at the beginning I had no skills. If you'd have asked me 10 years ago how to do a spreadsheet, I couldn't tell you. Now I know how to do spreadsheets, I know how to use PowerPoint, Gantt charts, swot charts, things like that. I would never have known how to do them, but I've learned a lot. 

It has helped me a lot and I use these skills daily. I've implemented a lot more since learning them as well. I share with others in the group and I pass my knowledge on to them. 
 

How have Home Carers been supporting you? Do you think it’s somewhere that you can continue to develop and advance your career? 

Yes, definitely, because the skills and I’ve gained, I could use anywhere in the building. They’re loving the way I've got things rolling. My managers have given me great feedback. They know that if they give me a task, I'll get it done. And if I don't know the answers, I will find someone who has the answers and then I will get it implemented straight away. 
 

How about the learning coaches with Total People? How have they helped you? 

They're fantastic. When I first started on this course, a had a lady called Rebecca. After a couple of months, she went on maternity leave and I got another guy called Steve.  

He has been fantastic, so supportive! He’s there day in, day out for me. I can e-mail him and within 24-48 hours I get a message back off him. I have dyslexia but he’ll revert things into a language that I understand. He'll explain it in a different way to me so that I can get my head round it.  

I've also had extra support off a gentleman called Tom with my English and maths because of my dyslexia. He has been absolutely fantastic. I look forward to having my meetings with him on a Wednesday. I’ve learned so much from him. 

Even Rebecca, the one that went off to have the baby, when I got Apprenticeship of the Month, she came in and gave me my certificate. I was so proud! They’ve been so supportive. 
 

Would you recommend an apprenticeship to people who might be in a similar situation to yourself or thinking about it as a means of career progression? 

Yes. Don't get me wrong, it's hard work, but it's fun. You learn so much. You learn things that you didn't even know that you could learn! 

I wouldn't go to any other company now, I would only go to Total People. I've loved learning with Total People.
 

If you’re a learner interested in a Professional Services apprenticeship, check out our programmes in Business Administration, Customer Service and Human Resources. 

If you’re an employer, you can find out more about upskilling your workforce via our Employer Hub.