Learner Case Study
One thing we love at tend™, is hearing from learners on our programmes. Thousands of individuals, of all ages and from a variety of backgrounds, complete their learning programmes with us every year, enabling them to enhance their careers, expand their skill sets, and deliver excellence in the incredible work they do.
Take Yasmin Vines, for example. Yasmin works for Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council as their Engagement and Volunteer Manager. She is currently completing a Level 5 Operational and Business Management Diploma through tend™, with the full support of her employer and colleagues.
tend™ sat down with Yasmin to talk about her journey so far, and how she’s finding life as a learner balanced with her leadership role, and what she plans to do with her new skills.
tend™: Hi Yasmin! Tell us a little bit about you.
YV: I’d worked for Knowsley Council a little over 3 months when the opportunity for some professional development came up. I had expressed in my interview that I’d like to explore taking a management programme to continue developing my skills. So, I’ve been supported in undertaking this further learning to compliment my role, which is great.
tend™: That’s brilliant! What made you want to undertake an apprenticeship?
YV: I had actually been looking at undertaking a management apprenticeship while in a previous role. So, I talked about that in my interview. Up until now, I have not been a manager before, so when this (opportunity) came along with Knowsley Council, I asked if I could do it, and my line manager and Head of Service fully supported it.
IF: Amazing! So, what skills did you want to develop?
YV: I wanted to do this primarily to understand what being a manager involves, and to aid in my self-awareness, decision making, and to address my areas of weakness around financial and business planning.
IF: Sounds like a plan! What would you say are the main benefits of doing an apprenticeship, compared to more traditional courses of learning?
YV: The flexibility of the apprenticeship, and deployment of learning within my work, has enabled me to maximise the potential of studying. I’m doing the Level 5 Operational and Business Management Diploma. What I like is that I’m able to practically apply the theories we’ve learned into the workplace right away, and see meaningful impact from it.
tend™: That’s great to hear. So, Yasmin – what are your next steps? Are you considering a next-level apprenticeship, higher education such as university, or continuing your career? What is your ideal job role and how can education help you to get there?
YV: I’d like to use my new skills to continue in my role and undertake some mentoring for new and aspiring leaders and managers, and share the experience. I feel I’m in a job I can remain in for the foreseeable future, but would like to continue with the development and learning opportunities within my current role.
tend™: Passing on what you’ve learned is a wonderful way to maximise the value of your learning. So, that’s your career. What about your personal goals? What does life look like for you over the next few years, and how would you like your career to adapt around that?
YV: I’d like to stay in my current role, but look at growing and expanding the team I work in to bring in new skills, aid the development of other staff members, and continue to use the skills I’ve been learning.
tend™: You are definitely a mentor in the making! How did training with tend™ improve your career?
YV: The training I’ve received with tend™ has been fantastic for aiding my understanding of the organisation I work for, the components that go into business and operational planning, and for my role as a manager and leader in inspiring others.
tend™: How did your tend™ programme compare to other training you’ve completed in the past?
YV: This programme has been a good blend of theoretical and self-directed study, group working, and reflective learning, and by that, I mean gathering feedback, putting the theories into practice, etc. That, to me, has been invaluable – unlike other training, which can be very theoretical, but doesn’t give you the opportunity to put the skills into practice so you can reinforce the understanding and learning.
tend™: We certainly stand by the value that comes from balancing theory and practice. Is that the main reason you’d recommend tend™ to others? What would you say to someone considering an apprenticeship?
YV: I’d tell them to do it with tend™! I’d recommend the apprenticeship I’ve been doing. The delivery of the learning (from my Development Coach) has been particularly good.
Yasmin is just one of our many incredible learners, working hard to enhance their careers, and transform their careers to match their vision for the future. It was a pleasure to hear from her and what she plans to do with what she’s learning.
This is the wonderful thing about these conversations. It’s an opportunity to zoom in on people’s experiences and stories, and examine apprenticeships from the inside. Who knows. Soon, we might be telling YOUR story!
