Behind the scenes - the making of the BHCC apprenticeship film

Seven apprentices from a variety of departments at Brighton & Hove City Council (BHCC) have been involved in the making of an apprenticeship promotional film. 

The film is for apprentices by apprentices with apprentices from BHCC, SeeThat and Creative Process involved in the planning, filming, editing and production. 

The film will be ready by the end of December 2014 and will be shown at all of the promotional events the apprentice ambassadors attend in the future as well as being used to attract potential apprentices to the council.

Here is a sneak preview of four of our Apprentice Ambassadors being filmed using green screen technology in the City College Brighton and Hove film studio -Ellie (top left), Kelly (top right), Lucy (bottom left), Rosie (bottom right)

Are you interested in carrying out an apprenticeship?

New apprentice, Vinny Stephenson

Vinny Stephenson

Age: 19 
Apprenticeship: Technical support officer.
Qualification: Business Administration, NVQ level 2 at Brighton City College.

Vinny started his apprenticeship three weeks ago with Brighton & Hove City Council (BHCC) and has already adapted to the fast working environment and new college course.

Prior to Vinny applying for his apprenticeship, he carried out a 3 month voluntary Traineeship at BHCC in aim to gain experience working in an office environment as well as developing his computer skills. He later applied for his apprenticeship and landed himself the job.

We asked Vinny why he applied for an apprenticeship at BHCC, he said:

“Having done my Traineeship with Brighton & Hove City Council, I know how well organised they are as well as being one of the biggest employers in the city and I thought who better to do it with.

“Doing the Traineeship, gave me the confidence to apply for this particular apprenticeship and I couldn’t be happier and I look forward to going into work every day, feeling a sense of responsibility, especially earning my own money.”

We later asked Vinny, why he decided to take on an apprenticeship rather than going to university, Vinny said:

“I felt more comfortable doing an apprenticeship and learning on the job, gaining a qualification and getting paid was a much better option for me, rather than getting into debt. I feel an apprenticeship is extremely valuable to put on the CV and take with me to any future employment and personally I feel an apprenticeship was the right route for me.”

Hear full interview with Vinny  

Our next stop... Longhill High School

We will be attending Personal Social Health Education (P.S.H.E) classes at Longhill High School, holding sessions for students with the aim to encourage young people to take on an apprenticeship after school or college.

The session will include activities and the ambassadors sharing their experiences as an apprentice. 

There will be 1 session a month in November, December and January 2014. 

Get to know your ambassadors

To find out more about us as individuals see link below:
http://apprenticeambassadors.blogspot.co.uk/p/blog-page.html?zx=adfe4020bd25c66e

Sussex-wide careers event at Brighton Racecourse, 15 October 2014

Our apprentice ambassadors Kelly Butler (left) and Lucy Strutt (Right) attended the all day Sussex-wide careers event at Brighton Racecourse, 15 October 2014.

Over 30 school across Sussex attended the event, visiting a range different stalls all providing careers advice to young people. 

Our ambassadors Kelly and Lucy were among this giving advice and real life experience of what being an apprentice is like and what it involves, as well as encouraging the idea of taking on an apprenticeship after school or college. 

Kelly Butler, Human Resources apprentice, said: "At this event, we managed to inform a number of young people about apprenticeships and the opportunities that are available to them, gaining positive feedback on this. 

Doing career events like this, allows us as an organisation to interact with young people and gives them a sense of what is available when they leave school or college."

Hove Park Sixth Form freshers assembly, 7 October 2014

Our ambassadors Ellie Bacon and Lucy Strutt attended Hove Park Sixth Form freshers assembly today (7 October 2014) to raise awareness to students about apprenticeships. 

Ellie and Lucy gave advice and their own experiences as an apprentice at Brighton & Hove City Council to the students as well as promoting the different types of apprenticeships available locally and nationally.

Ellie Bacon, Communications Apprentice said: "I really enjoyed being able to help and advise sixth form students today as they are in the same position I was in only two years ago.

I also enjoyed providing real life experience as an apprentice and I feel this can be extremely valuable to anyone considering an apprenticeship."

Our apprentice ambassador graduate, Rachel Maddison

Rachel Maddison, 23 has been undertaking an apprenticeship in procurement over the past 8 months  and has been offered a full-time position as a procurement adviser for children's services at Brighton & Hove City Council.

Rachel spent her time as an apprentice studying business administration, level 3 at Brighton City College and will continue to study along side her full time job at the council.

Rachel's story as an apprentice at Brighton & Hove City Council

I moved to Brighton in 2010 to study a Biological sciences degree at University after doing my A levels. After two years I left after not obtaining high enough marks to continue.

I spent the next year and a bit between bar jobs and unemployment, until I decided to undertake an apprenticeship after learning about them from the Job Centre in Brighton & Hove.

I started at the council in February 2014 and have been working alongside the procurement team doing administration and learning procurement specific skills.
Undertaking this apprenticeship and being able to learn alongside working full-time has given me the platform and the confidence to work towards my career and other pathways I may wish to take in the future.

24 September 2014 - year 11 parents information evening at Dorothy Stringer High School

Two of our apprentice ambassadors, Rachel and Alessandra, went along to Dorothy Stringer High School for a year 11 parents information evening. 

Rachel and Alessandra spoke to over 200 parents/carers and pupils at this event, providing advice and their own personal experiences as an apprentice to help encourage the idea of a different pathway.  

Rachel Maddison, Procurement apprentice studying business administration, said: "It was really nice to give the students and parents an insight into what apprenticeships are like and hear that more and more people are considering them as an option after school or college."

Where you can find us next:

15 October 2014 at Brighton & Hove Racecourse 

Event: All day Sussex-wide careers event for schools to attend (will be thousands of students during the day). BEACH and Apprentice Ambassadors will represent and offer interactive activities.

Location: Freshfield Road, Brighton, East Sussex, BN2 9XZ

Are we holding an event near you?

18 September 2014 at Varndean High School

Event: For citywide year 11 staff information evening - aiming to raise awareness to post-16 options.

Location: Balfour Road, Brighton, East Sussex BN1 6NP

24 September 2014 at Dorothy Stringer High School

Event: For year 11 parents information evening (with students) 6.30-8.30pm.

Location: Loder Road, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 6PZ

15 October 2014 at Brighton & Hove Racecourse

Event: All day Sussex-wide careers event for schools to attend (will be thousands of students during the day). BEACH and Apprentice Ambassadors will represent and offer interactive activities.

Location: Freshfield Road, Brighton, East Sussex, BN2 9XZ

16 October 2014 at Patcham High School

Event- Year 11 parents information evening (with students). 

Location: Ladies Mile Road, Patcham, Brighton, Sussex BN1 8PB

October/November 2014 at Batholomew House, BN1 1JE

Event: The BME young people’s project

Location: Bartholomew Square, Brighton, BN1 1JE 

We are seven apprentices at Brighton & Hove City Council and have come together to raise awareness of apprenticeships in the city.

Our aim is to promote the importance and availability of Apprenticeships to young people and parents/carers across the city, giving them the chance to find out about other career options. 

The ambassadors cover a range of different sectors, Human Resources, Schools, Procurement, Culture and Media Relations, and are all undertaking a nationally recognised qualification from level 2, advanced level 3 to higher level 5.