Abbie rises from Business Admin apprenticeship to York CVS senior manager role by her mid-20s!

And, ask Abbie for the secret of such success, then her answer is unequivocal.

She is convinced that her professional progression would not have been as swift without her decision, in 2017, to train as an apprentice with York College and Healthwatch – an arm of York CVS (Centre for Voluntary Service).

On completing her two-year apprenticeship, Abbie was employed as a Signpost Officer by Healthwatch.

She then became a Volunteer Manager, before working directly for York CVS as a Social Prescriber.

That subsequently led to an opportunity to become a Team Leader, before she was appointed in her current role as a Social Prescribing Manager.

On the importance of the apprenticeship – that saw her combine workplace experience at Healthwatch with day release classroom tuition at College – Abbie, who turned 27 last month, pointed out: “The Business Admin apprenticeship allowed me to learn a lot about the different services we have here in York. 

“I became somebody that volunteers in the city could speak to during my apprenticeship and that helped me get the job as a Volunteer Manager. During the apprenticeship, I also went to a lot of meetings with health, wellbeing and safeguarding boards, who were associated with the council, which gained me a lot of experience in networking and that’s helped me get where I am. 

“York’s quite a small place, so you can quickly find yourself in the right meetings and speaking with the right people. I was making contacts all the time and also finding out how systems work.

“Everything has stemmed from my apprenticeship, including organisational skills, networking and learning how to present yourself at meetings. I had meetings with York CVS, social prescribers, social workers and all the different teams across York, so learned so much about the sector.

“I don’t think I’d be in the role I’m in now without having started on an apprenticeship, because the experiences and people I met then have shaped my career pathway. I might have been on the right path by now, but I don’t think I’d be at this point on it.”

Abbie’s role as a Social Prescribing Manager sees her head a team that works closely with GP surgeries to support anybody aged 18 or over in York with a social issue that could be related to housing, addiction or loneliness.

The team then links those people up with the right services.

Having worked with GP surgeries since her apprenticeship, Abbie has established a strong working relationship with the city’s health professionals and, on the other duties in her current role, she said: “I write quarterly reports using the skills I first gained during my apprenticeship, when I used to proofread them, and I also offer support with contracts and ensure we continue to be funded by working closely with Finance.” 

On the value of the classroom elements of her apprenticeship, meanwhile, Abbie added: “For somebody who had never been to a meeting before, even learning things like minute taking and GDPR legislation in College was really useful. 

“It was great to have that understanding rather than just being thrown into some meetings. I also found it worked the other way and that my experiences at work helped me with my coursework.” 

That assistance with the written requirements of her apprenticeship were welcomed by Abbie who, as an A Level student, had previously struggled with a less practical method of learning. 

“I went to sixth form and did A Levels but, being sat in a classroom learning, just wasn’t for me,” she explained. “I consider myself more of a doer, who likes to learn on the job.

“I did Psychology, which I loved, and Geography, English Literature and Business Studies, which I dropped after the first year. I passed them all, but didn’t really thrive and get the best of results so, afterwards, I looked at apprenticeships through York College and that’s how I came across the opportunity with Healthwatch.

“When I did the apprenticeship, I then found I enjoyed doing coursework more, because I could link it back to what I was doing and experiencing at work. My assessor was also always flexible.

“She fitted her visits around my work commitments and I found going to College once a week and being paid to work and learn great for me.”

While the apprenticeship route appealed to Abbie more than progressing onto Higher Education with a university course, her A Level experience also helped cement her views on the kind of field she would like to work in.

“Psychology was always my favourite subject and I wanted to do something that involved helping people, not necessarily in a care role, but more something that involved giving advice and supporting,” she said. “I liked that Healthwatch were all about signposting people to different services after speaking to them to learn about their experiences. 

“I found out really quickly that I enjoy doing that and I chose the apprenticeship because of the charity it was with. I also knew I didn’t want to go to uni - I wanted to get into work straight away and into the charity sector.”

Healthwatch York Manager Sian Balsom, for one, is delighted that Abbie chose to apply for the apprenticeship just over eight years ago, believing the charitable organisation unearthed a “diamond”.

She said: "Bringing Abbie into the Healthwatch York team as an apprentice is honestly one of the best things we've ever done. She brought so much to the team - her passion, energy, ideas and determination shone from the start. 

“It was a pleasure working with her, watching her grow into the role and staying with us after her apprenticeship in a permanent position. It was no surprise to watch her continued success, taking on new challenges and new roles. 

“We found a diamond and, if we helped give her a little polish on her way, I will always be incredibly proud of our part in this."

They are sentiments echoed by York CVS Chief Executive Alison Semmence, who said: “When Abbie started with York as an apprentice in the Healthwatch York team, we recognised her talents very early on and have seen her progress in different roles, from Social Prescriber to Senior Social Prescriber and, now, as the Social Prescribing Manager.  Sian’s words perfectly sum up what we think about Abbie.”

The positive experience with Abbie has led to York CVS partnering with York College to deliver further apprenticeships, including current Business Admin apprentice Cameron Rennison.

To learn more about our Business Admin apprenticeship, click here

York College also offers apprenticeship course tuition in  the following areas: Accounts or Finance Assistant; Adult Care Worker; Advanced & Creative Hair Professional; Advanced Beauty Therapist; Autocare Technician; Barbering Professional; Beauty Therapist; Bricklayer; Architectural Joinery; Site Carpentry; Chef de Partie; Commis Chef; Construction Site Supervisor; Content Creator; Craft Bricklayer; Craft Painter & Decorator; Cultural Learning and Participation Officer; Early Years Educator; Early Years Practitioner; Engineering Fitter; Engineering Manufacturing Technician (Electrical or Mechanical); Food & Beverage Team Member; Furniture Making Operative; Hairdressing Professional; Hospitality Supervisor (Food & Beverage); HR Support; Installation and Maintenance Electrician; Laboratory Technician; Lead Adult Care Worker; Maintenance and Operations Engineering Technician; Metal Fabricator; Motor Vehicle Service and Maintenance Technician; Multi-Channel Marketer; Painter & Decorator; Plumbing & Domestic Heating Technician; Production Chef; Senior Production Chef; Stonemason; Teaching Assistant and Wellbeing and Holistic Therapist.  

A full list of our current apprenticeship vacancies, can be found here

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