Leeds City College

Apprentice Alex Soare is making the most of a ‘perfect opportunity’ to gain work experience at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

The Leeds City College Customer Service Level 2 student has been working as a ward clerk for the trust (LTHT) since January, 2021.

The role is a demanding but rewarding one which combines a variety of administrative and customer services tasks, including patient admission and discharge.

Alex, who is working towards a career in business administration, saw the job as a chance to gain some invaluable experience.

A dynamic role

She said: “This was the perfect opportunity to enter this new field, and also to work for LTHT.

“The apprenticeship has helped me gain customer service knowledge and learn how to put the theory into practice.

“What I enjoy most is that this is a dynamic job where you always meet new people and learn new things.

“I like offering support and the feeling of being a valued member of the team. The trust has also benefited from having an apprentice with my expertise and knowledge who has helped to improve the level of customer service.”

The experience also presented Alex with a number of challenges, not least that of working in a high pressure healthcare environment and an Intensive Care Unit where every day was different.

Challenges and rewards

Strong support from her colleagues at the trust, however – plus academic assistance from the college to ensure she kept on top of her studies – ensured she stayed the course and flourished.

She said: “Regarding the college, my assessor’s support contributed a lot to me persevering and carrying on working towards my qualification.

“Whenever I needed additional help she was more than happy to give it and on top of that, made very useful suggestions that helped in situations where I wasn’t sure what to do.”

Reflecting on her whole apprenticeship experience, which ends in April, Alex added: “This apprenticeship has been extremely beneficial because I have gained experience and knowledge in a very much desired field.

“I was also paid a decent amount of money, and being paid for your work and studying at the same time is not something you find in other forms of education.”

Alex completed her Level 2 course at the end of January. She is now considering enrolling on a Customer Service Level 3 apprenticeship, and taking on a new role, to continue her development.

Click here for more details on pursuing an apprenticeship through Leeds City College.