Apprenticeships

The first thing I do when I start work is…

Power up my laptop and get caught up on the chatter! We always arrive before the phone lines officially open; it gives us a chance to check in with one another and get set up for the day. 

We use a lot of different applications to ensure a smooth delivery of service when taking calls, so I take the time before the phone lines open to arrange my digital workspace.

The most interesting part of my day is…

The unpredictability! You never quite know what the enquiries will be like from NK’s residents and various callers. It keeps things different and spontaneous. I appreciate the very social element of it, and it brings me a lot of joy to hear about little bits of life from the people who engage with us. (I particularly love calls with chatty dogs in the background.)

The challenges I face in my daily role are…

Often unique, I’d say. Being part of NKDC puts you at the centre of a social environment, where the work we do is done in the interest of those in the district. The social element makes for some emotive interaction sometimes when things aren’t going quite right, and being a part of Customer Services often makes you the first point of contact. It makes you the ambassador, and that first impression can be what makes sure someone feels heard, understood, and supported.

It may sound daunting, but it is incredibly rewarding.

The best thing about being an apprentice is…

The ever-present chance to learn and evolve your skills. It’s a perfect chance to challenge yourself and gain incredibly valuable working knowledge. Prior to being an administrative apprentice based in Customer Services, I had only retail working experience. It was a complete change of career direction and qualification for me. Being an apprentice has facilitated that change, giving me a structured and supportive work environment to learn and thrive in while gaining a new qualification.

My favourite thing about working for NKDC is…

The unconditional support. My time with Customer Services, and by extension NKDC, has been the most supportive work environment I have ever had the joy to exist in. I am pleased to continue my time at NKDC in another role as my apprenticeship comes to a steady close, and I hope for many more years of service.

The first thing I do when I start work is…

The first thing I do is always check my calendar and diary.

This allows me to prioritise my workload to see what needs to be actioned first. 

The most interesting part of my day is…

Although phone calls can be daunting, I do enjoy communicating with customers. It is interesting as I find everyone is unique to talk to and has a different situation for me to assist with. 

The challenges I face in my daily role are…

It can be easy to get distracted from a task with interruptions from phone calls or helping others in the team. It is important to remember to return to complete the original task, I find making notes of my progress or making reminders in my calendar helpful.

The best thing about being an apprentice is…

Being an apprentice has given me the opportunity to be in a work environment, whilst being a student and still learning. I feel my confidence and adaptably has grown tremendously through this dynamic of work and study.

My favourite thing about working for NKDC is…

I have thoroughly enjoyed the team aspect of working in Planning at NKDC. The whole department are so helpful and have been thoroughly willing to assist in my learning journey. I look forward to continuing at NKDC.