My experience of the Apprenticeship Scheme at the National Assembly of Wales

I am an apprentice at the National Assembly for Wales. I have been an apprentice for just over a year now, where I work in the Translation and Reporting Services (TRS) and the Front of House Department (FoH). I applied for the Apprenticeship Scheme because I wanted to learn and earn, whereas if I had gone to University I would have ended up with a debt. I was browsing through the Careers Wales website where I found the apprenticeship advertised. The application form was easy to understand and had a really good layout, so I just had to fill in the blank spaces. We had an assessment day at the Assembly where we completed Maths and English exercises and then if we were lucky enough we got an interview. I was nervous for the interview, but once I got into the room, they were nice and made you feel at ease. I actually really enjoyed my interview. The four successful applicants then got invited to an open day in the Pierhead and soon started at the Assembly. We had two weeks of induction which was overwhelming but helped us to understand more about the Assembly. I then got settled into TRS and had a great line-manager who trained me so that I was confident to work on my own. I had so much help and support when needed. I then joined the FoH department and everyone was welcoming and helped me to settle in and complete tasks. I think the Assembly is a great place to work. We gained an NVQ in Business and Administration during our time here. I have learnt new skills and had the opportunity to work in two different departments and improve my Welsh Language skills. I would recommend this to anyone who is eager for a really good start to working life. Zoe Kelland Translation Reporting Services National Assembly for Wales The National Assembly for Wales is looking for six Apprentices to work in various teams throughout the Assembly Commission. Five posts will be placed in Cardiff Bay and one post will be placed in our Colwyn Bay office. For more information check our advert, refer to our additional information, or call: 029 20 89 8659 (24 hour answering line).