Skills for Life: Tom’s Apprenticeship Journey
It’s National Apprenticeship Week, and this year’s theme is ‘Skills for Life.’
Here at Gusto Group, one of our core values is empowering people, and we believe the best way to do that is by providing an environment where talent can thrive and gain the essential skills that build a long and successful career.
We recently spoke with our new Business Admin Apprentice, Tom, to get an insight into his apprenticeship, how he is settling in at Gusto Group, and what skills he is most excited about developing during his time with us.
Tom at Gusto House
What made you choose an apprenticeship over college or university?
"I chose an apprenticeship because the real-life experience you gain from working in a professional environment provides a much more in-depth insight into how a business actually operates."
How does the ‘learning while doing’ environment of an apprenticeship compare to your previous experiences learning in a classroom?
“Learning while doing is a brilliant way for me to observe colleagues with years of experience and understand what their day-to-day workload looks like, and what different job roles entail. It also allows me to learn from a variety of perspectives across the business, rather than being limited to just one person’s teaching in a classroom.”
Tom collaborating with the team.
Since the theme is ‘Skills for Life,’ what skills are you focused on developing during this apprenticeship?
“In my apprenticeship, I hope to advance my customer service skills and understand the technical side of Accounts and Learning & Development. I want to get involved in the business as much as I can to discover which area I’m most interested in for the future. I'm excited to work within a business that prioritises innovation, and I hope to bring fresh ideas to the team whenever possible. I love the fact that sustainability is so important to the team here at Gusto Group.”
In your first few weeks, how has the team supported you in balancing your Level 3 studies with your daily role at Gusto Group?
“In my first few weeks at Gusto Group, the team have really helped me settle in and feel extremely comfortable. They have supported me by giving me opportunities to meet people in different roles and by providing work that helps me improve my organisational skills.”
What are your future career goals once you complete your apprenticeship?
“My future career goals include finding out which area of a business I want to specialise in. I want to take all the knowledge and experience I gain from working in a professional environment and use it to, one day, hopefully build a business of my own.”
Providing our team with the professional tools and space they need to succeed.
What advice would you give to someone thinking of applying for an apprenticeship?
“The advice I would give is to do it for the right reasons and make sure you have a genuine interest in the area of work. Show enthusiasm and always ask questions, because I feel like it's the best way to learn.”
It’s been a pleasure seeing Tom settle into Gusto Group so quickly.
Supporting the next generation of talent is one of the most rewarding ways we uphold our value of empowering people and we’re happy to be part of Tom’s career journey.