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NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP WEEK: THE INTERVIEW

Is an apprenticeship really for me?

National Apprenticeship Week - Tilly Moore Interview

It is National Apprenticeship Week 2022, so who better to ask what an apprenticeship at Richmond Motor Group is like and whether it could be for you than one of our very own apprentices!

We had the chance to sit down with Tilly Moore, 19, who is currently 6-months into Year 1 of 3, studying towards her Level 3 Light Vehicle Service and Maintenance Diploma, which includes an Electric Vehicle & F-Gas (Air-Con) Certification.

We spoke about her apprenticeship, the challenges she has faced, and the advice she has for anyone who wants to start an apprenticeship - let's get into it!

Did you start your apprenticeship straight from school?

Tilly: No, I did 2-years at Highbury College doing Automotive, in which I gained a Level 1 & 2 Diploma. My teacher was contacted by Richmond Motor Group and they asked if he had any students that he thought would be a good fit for an apprenticeship here. I got put forward for this, along with a couple of others, but I was lucky enough to receive a call to say I was successful. I had always said that an apprenticeship is something I always wanted.

What was the transition like from college to starting your apprenticeship?

Tilly: I had finished going to college in May 2021 when I passed my level 2 qualification, then I had a gap of 3 months before I started in August at Richmond, but at the time in May, I only knew that I had an interview to get ready for which was in July. So, when I started in August, it went from having my own free time all day to 40 hours a week working, so it was a change to what I was used to, but I needed it - I was ready for it because I needed to start progressing into the career that I wanted. But these 6-months have flown by, and I never expected it to go so quickly as it has. I am enjoying it - it is a lot of fun. That is one of the things I feared that I was not going to enjoy the apprenticeship as I do but, I am glad it has turned out the way it has.

Tell me more about the college side of your apprenticeship?

Tilly: The college we go to is in Nottingham, which I attend every 6-weeks. We usually go up on a Sunday, so we are set to start on a Monday. The 3-day block consists of college days, in the classroom, learning the theory work. But at college, they have workshops there too, so we still do practical tasks there, but it is more in-depth with the context as to why we do things and processes to follow. My first time going to the college was in January, it was an introduction lesson, which meant we got to know the tools and made some brake clamps. We will be going to college every 6-weeks throughout the 3-year apprenticeship.

What roles do you carry out in your apprenticeship?

Tilly: All my work at Richmond is hands-on. In the mornings, there are a lot of housekeeping duties and as apprentices, it is a part of our role. Including sorting the drainers, making sure things are tidy and clean, and just making sure the workshop is ready for the day. For the rest of the day, I shadow my mentor, helping with services and diagnostics. If there are little jobs around the workshop that need to be seen to, I usually step away from my mentor to carry these out - to help the department keep running smooth. But I enjoy shadowing my mentor, as I can learn something new every day!

What skills have you learned so far?

Tilly: I have learned how to use tools, time management skills, money management skills, and to become self-sufficient and independent. If my duties are not complete, it affects the rest of the team as we are all reliant on each other so, the department runs smoothly.

National Apprenticeship Week - Tilly Moore Interview

National Apprenticeship Week - Tilly Moore Interview

Tell me your favourite thing about your apprenticeship?

Tilly: When I first started, I was anxious about going away to college, and now it is one of my favourite things. Since I have been up there, I realised I love it. The travelling is a little long-winded but, as soon as I was in Nottingham, the 3-days flew by, and I did not want to leave! I like being at the college and learning about the processes in-depth. My mentor teaches me so much at Richmond, but I like that in college, we can explore it in even more detail, we can take the time to take in the information in a different environment. Whereas at work, I have a specific job to complete on a car, so I would not be able to sit there and go into areas of exploring as you can at college. I feel like, with an apprenticeship, I can get the best of all worlds when it comes to learning, working in the workshop and earning a wage.

What has been the most challenging part of your apprenticeship so far and how did you overcome it?

Tilly: The most challenging part is that I felt like I had a knowledge gap due to COVID. I only attended my first college a couple of times through the 2-years I was there, and I did not receive as much teaching from the college as I should have done, even though I had passed both my courses. So, when I came into work for my apprenticeship with an expected 2-years of college education knowledge, I felt like it put me back a bit as when being asked questions, I was not 100% sure on some of the answers. But I know now I was hard on myself as every apprentice is at different knowledge levels and, when I think about it, I am doing an apprenticeship to learn.

What has been the most rewarding part of your apprenticeship?

Tilly: Getting to know the team I work with now has been very rewarding. I did not believe I would make friends or get on with the people I work with. We are one big family - which is very good. Also, the life skills I have already taken from this apprenticeship, such as being independent, I feel like it has helped me grow up into more of an adult. Before I started here, I never had any customer service experience at all, and the thought of talking to a customer while fitting a windscreen wiper, for example, scared me a lot. But now, I have the confidence to do it while talking to them, which has helped with my social skills.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Tilly: Well, hopefully fully qualified, including my certified and my F-Gas qualification and EV qualification. My hope is to progress towards being a diagnostics technician because I like the diagnostics work - my mentor gets a lot of diagnostics jobs to do, rather than services. I like figuring out problems and using my brain, which are the skills that get applied within diagnostics work. I would love to be someone Richmond Motor Group can rely on for different jobs. So, the more skills and qualifications I have will help me achieve that.

What would you say to someone who wanted to get an apprenticeship?

Tilly: I would say that nerves will be a massive thing, but you must take it on the chin and get through it as you will settle down and become comfortable at work, and you will make friends. That was always one of the things I was worried about, but everyone is so lovely. If you try your best and do as much as possible, you will be fine. Remember, at the end of the day, you are an apprentice who is here to learn and achieve your qualification. You will make mistakes, but that is how you learn from them, and you should not be scared when you make a mistake as you are learning. Remember, everyone makes mistakes as everyone is constantly learning.

Thank you very much to Tilly for allowing us to interview her for our blog! It was great to sit down with her and chat about her apprenticeship and hear first-hand her point of view. One thing that stood out to us when talking with Tilly is that everyone is constantly learning, and you will always get through things that you never thought you could.

If you have not seen it already, check out our blog where we interviewed one of our apprentice mentors and stay tuned for more National Apprenticeship Week content on our socials!


08 February 2022

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