After completing his IT apprenticeship at Selwood Housing last year, Connor Partner has now taken an exciting next step in his career. Ahead of National Apprenticeships Week, we caught up with Connor again to find out how he’s transitioned from apprentice to full-time member of the IT team.
IT is something I’ve always wanted to get in to, and an apprenticeship gave me the opportunity to do it! I chose to do my apprenticeship at Selwood Housing because of the personal development opportunities on offer and the chance to build skills that will help me progress in my career.
One of the biggest things I learned during my apprenticeship was how to work well as part of a team, how to help others overcome issues and, most importantly, how to ask for help when I need it. It also gave me practical skills and knowledge to prepare me for a career in IT and all the different ways of working that might involve.
What I enjoyed most about being an apprentice was learning new skills every day. This came from both my apprenticeship training and from day-to-day work. Being able to bring in new ideas and information into the team was very rewarding.
I’m particularly proud of the work I completed for my final project. I had the opportunity to create a new feature from start to finish, with the time and space to plan, build and test it properly. I also worked closely with other teams which gave me a valuable insight into how different parts of the organisation work together.
One of the biggest challenges I faced while completing my apprenticeship was deciding what to focus on for my final project. My manager set aside time to work through ideas with me, helping me choose something that met the course requirements while also making a positive impact to the organisation.
The support I received through my apprenticeship made a huge difference. Everyone was always willing to help with any questions I had, whether that was taking the time to talk something through or helping me solve a problem. Having a supportive team around me really helped me develop my confidence and skills.
I’m excited to have recently stepped into a full-time permanent role as an IT solutions developer. In my new role, I support the release of new features in the systems we’re developing. Making sure everything runs smoothly and supporting our teams work to more effectively.
Moving into a permanent role has given me more flexibility to work on a range of projects and more opportunities to support my colleagues and put the skills I’ve learnt into practice.
Looking ahead, I’m keen to keep focusing on my personal development and continue learning so I can progress in my career. Selwood Housing is a great place to do this as there are always opportunities to improve my skills.
For anyone thinking about doing an apprenticeship, I would highly recommend it. It’s given me the chance to do what I’ve always wanted to do, with great support and real-life experience. If you’re struggling to get your foot in the door, an apprenticeship is one of the best ways to start, it’s given me a clear path for where I want to be and how to get there.
