Emily Rigg, 22, is on a Level 3 IT Apprenticeship in an IT support role at Systemagic in Bradford-On-Avon who provide IT support for many small businesses in Wiltshire and Somerset.

Can you tell us about your experience of apprenticeships and your past jobs?

I left School after sitting my exams as I knew staying in an academic setting wasn’t for me I wanted to start working, so I started an apprenticeship within the NHS – I did a Business Administration apprenticeship within HR when I was 17 years old. Once I completed the course I moved departments to the recruitment team in the RUH Bath, I stayed in that role for 2 years. I found the job didn’t satisfy me and when I sat down and had a think I realised I was more interested in IT.

 Now you have experienced two different apprenticeships what do you find great about them?

I find it flexible for example my assessor comes in every few months to check up on me, but there is no fixed time I need to sit my exams, I can do them along the way or at the end. I can work at my own pace on this IT apprenticeship. As I am less than a year into the job I have been focusing on settling into the role and getting to know the company before starting my coursework, I started work on that at the end of last year.

I also think apprenticeships are great for building your skills on your CV and gaining work experience, working in an adult environment, especially when I was 17, made me grow up quickly.

What are your proudest moments so far?

Seeing a project from planning to the end and meeting new clients, I enjoy visiting them and getting to know more about their business on site. I am also pleased at how much I am picking up, I did question myself at the start looking at the course framework and wondering if I had taken on too much, but now I understand it and can answer questions without asking for support.