“To anyone considering an apprenticeship, just do it!”

Shannon Ramsay and Adam Mcintosh are just two of the apprentices YHN has supported and helped gain employment.

In the last five years, a total of 62 apprentices have been supported by our Employability team.

Shannon is now looking forward to what the future holds for her after picking an apprenticeship due to the support it offered her while still deciding on what career she wanted.

The 24-year-old Support and Progression worker said: “I got involved in the apprenticeship through an advertisement in my Universal Credit journal, as I was currently out of work.

“I chose an apprenticeship as I needed to find hours that worked around my childcare needs, as my children at that point weren’t in school.

“As well as the childcare, an apprenticeship to me was a chance to explore what I wanted my career path to look like as I was still undecided.”

Shannon added: “I personally believe my apprenticeship was the best way to learn the role of a Support Worker at my own pace and to not feel overwhelmed with information and the job itself.

“I would say the biggest challenge I faced was the theory side of the apprenticeship at college.

“I enjoyed having the one day a week for classroom-based work, however due to the apprenticeship being customer service, a lot of the work and assignments were based on retail and profits. This was challenging as I didn’t work in retail or manage profits, I worked with refugees and young people (16 to 21).”

Shannon is now reaping the benefits of all her hard work and looking forward to the next stage of her career at YHN.

She said: “My biggest achievement so far is being offered the role I have worked tirelessly for over the last two years to achieve.

“I will be joining the West Team as a S&P worker and believe my hard work and determination throughout my apprenticeship and relief work has finally paid off.

“I have learnt so much in my time at YHN, dealing with vulnerable customers, support plans, applications, and I have also learnt a lot about myself. How to organise and prioritise, how to deal with stressful situations and most importantly, self-reflection.

“To anyone considering an apprenticeship, do it!

“I know a lot of people worry about the apprenticeship wage (I know I did) but YHN do an affordability sheet to make sure that you will be able to live on the apprenticeship affordability sheet to make sure that you will be able to live on the apprenticeship wage.

“It’s a great way to get your foot in the door and learn on the job.

“My hopes for the future are to work my way towards a permanent contract and just to see what the future holds for me.”

Adam Mcintosh works as an ICT Service Desk Analyst at YHN following his apprenticeship.

The 24-year-old said the apprenticeship has been the best thing he has done so far, and helped shape him to the person he is now.

Adam said: “I first got involved in the apprenticeship scheme when I was in college.

“I had been sent an email from Baltic apprenticeships that I had been given an interview for Your Homes Newcastle which I found very relaxed and was more of a chat than anything.

“I had got the apprenticeship position and couldn’t have been happier.

“I chose an apprenticeship because it was a perfect ground to learn whilst getting paid to do so.

“Not only does it offer an opportunity to learn through the apprenticeship but it allows you to learn on the job which I personally think college lacks in.”

Adam said the biggest challenge he faced was in the Newcastle Eagles apprentice challenge where their group was split into two teams and had to sell novelties at a match.

“It was a total learning curve for all of us but was an incredible experience and helped build on teamwork and confidence.”

Adam is full of praise for the apprenticeship system and the support he received throughout.

He said: “My biggest achievement has to be on how far I’ve managed to progress my skills – I’ve gone from a basic understanding of IT problem solving to being the go-to person for a wide variety of systems.

“I’ve learned absolutely tonnes about IT that at the time I wouldn’t ever think about – for instance what actually goes into a project to get it from a thought to actually implemented.

“You also learn to build up your communication skills.”

Adam added: “I would say to 100% go for an apprenticeship. You only have benefits to gain from learning on the job, earning an income and gaining some real world skills.

“The apprenticeship even led me to the person I am now engaged to so who knows what the future could hold for you!

“I’m hoping to further develop myself by booking myself onto courses and show everyone what I can do!”