Last week was National Apprenticeship Week, which was the perfect chance to catch up with colleagues across DHU to learn about how they developed within their roles.
We are carrying on this theme by sharing tell Magda Urbanska’s story, who one of our 111 People and Culture Advisors. Magda's story is a great example of the career development opportunities that DHU provides through its apprenticeship program and how it benefits DHU and our people.
Magda told us: “A couple of years back, an exciting opportunity arose at DHU for me to start a Level 5 Human Resources Apprenticeship course with Babington. Having already completed my Level 3, it felt like the next natural step to take in my career. I spoke to some colleagues who were already on board, and their positive feedback fuelled my decision to dive into it.
“In 2022, I embarked on this apprenticeship journey, and after two years of hard work, I can proudly say that I recently completed my end point assessment. Balancing an apprenticeship, especially in a busy healthcare environment, requires excellent time management. Meeting deadlines, staying on track, and not feeling overwhelmed can be challenging, but I was lucky to have a fantastic support system around me.
“The apprenticeship was split into two parts. First, I tackled the CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma in People Management, and then came the HR Consultant/Partner Apprenticeship at Level 5. Seven modules made up the first part and throughout, it was all about showing I could apply theory to the workplace. The course was the best of two worlds, a blend of theory and hands-on training, making it an engaging and well-balanced experience.
“A highlight and a challenge for me was having an opportunity to do a consultative project, which is a report and discussion, which was the second part of the qualification. My project was around our Human Resources IS (Information System), so I had to work very closely with stakeholders in HR Information Systems who have a deep understanding of this area. For someone in a project management team, for example, they might have found it easy, but I had a lot to learn. When those challenges did arise, I had a lot of support from my manager and other colleagues who specialised in these areas.
“The apprenticeship was a game-changer for me. I picked up a huge amount of new skills and behaviours that were crucial for me to advance within my career. I even created a personal development plan to help me reach my goals, and it definitely played a part in landing me the role of 111 People and Culture Advisor.
“I would definitely recommend that colleagues take the opportunity to do an apprenticeship if one becomes available and it is amazing we work in an organisation that give us the opportunity.”