Carly Down

Carly left Penrice Community College in 2004 with ’C’ and above grades for her GCSE subjects and although she carried out her school work experience in a Primary School it identified that, although enjoyable, it was not the profession she wanted to follow. She started College on an Administration course but after a few months decided I wanted work based training.

Via Connexions, Carly was referred to Ultra, who found her an apprenticeship placement and in November 2004 she started Apprenticeship Training with Thermatech Timber Structure as a trainee administration assistant working in reception.  She replaced the previous receptionist who had left suddenly and she had to learn the job very quickly.  She is sure that this has helped her in adapting to the various roles she has had to deal with in the course of her everyday tasks.  Carly has had to deal with some very difficult customers both face to face and over the telephone and answer their queries.  She progressed from reception to working in the drawing office as a Truss Designer, which until this time was a predominately male oriented section, contacting customers and processing their orders.  Because of her role change Ultra provided her with AutoCAD training, which was outside the apprenticeship requirements, and she had to complete this course in evening but without it she would not have been able to work in her present job.  Carly also attended roofing project courses in Aldershot.  During her time with Thermatech she achieved Administration and Customer Service Level 2 qualification and she also completed the Advanced Apprenticeship in Customers Service.

Carly has documented that she has benefited from apprenticeship training by having had realistic experience in the workplace and has had to deal with situations that would have been impossible to simulate in a college environment.

Having been encouraged to progress to further training on completion of each qualification, Carly is now receiving advice and guidance as to what her next progression will be.