Stephen Purvis Business Admin Apprentice

Name: Stephen Purvis
Age: 19
Apprenticeship: Business Administration and Business Administration Advanced
Employer: Broad Chare Chambers

Stephen Purvis is employed by Newcastle-based Barristers Broad Chare Chambers as an Office Junior. Stephen has just completed his Apprenticeship in Business Administration and is now about to progress onto his Advanced Apprenticeship.

What made you decide that an Apprenticeship was the right option for you?

I was working part-time in a retail store when I realised I wanted a change of career. I knew Apprenticeships were a good way to learn whilst working at the same time, so I did some research and thought that it would be a good way for me to learn on-the-job.
How did you find your Apprenticeship?

I first of all made contact with Newcastle College and they explained about the different types of Apprenticeships on offer and I realised that the Business Admin Apprenticeship was the right option for me.

How did you find an employer?

The college explained that I had to be in full-time employment if I wanted to do an Apprenticeship so I started looking for an employer.

I updated my CV and began to contact businesses in the region. At the same time I was looking for an Apprenticeship, Broad Chare Chambers were looking for someone that would work alongside the existing Clerks, providing support and assistance to the Barristers. I went down to Broad Chare Chambers where I was interviewed and soon after I was offered the job and began my Apprenticeship.

What day-to-day jobs do you perform?

Apart from general admin, one of my main duties is to ensure that the Barristers have all the right files for their cases so they are fully prepared for the cases they are working on.

I also look after the company’s internal website which is used by all of the Barristers to share information and important documents. If any of the Barristers need any help with the website, I act as a point of contact for them giving support on the system.

What are your career ambitions?

I have just finished my Level 2 Apprenticeship and I’m about to start my Advanced Apprenticeship that I hope to have finished in June 2011. Once I have finished this part of my training I’ll have received both the qualifications and experience that will put me in a good position to become a Barristers Clerk within the Chambers.

What would you say to individuals that were considering Apprenticeships as a way to develop their career?

I’ve found that Apprenticeships are a great way to learn on-the-job as full-time study wasn’t really for me. They’re great if someone is looking to develop their skills whilst getting paid at the same time.

My job at Broad Chare Chambers has really lived up to the expectations I had before I started. If people are looking at Apprenticeships to further their career, based on my experience, I would certainly recommend them!

What advice would you give to people who are looking to find an employer that will put them through an Apprenticeship?

The main piece of advice I could give is to be proactive. The best way to find an employer is to do the searching yourself showing that you are eager. I was able to find my Apprenticeship by looking at businesses that I felt would have a requirement for the type of Apprenticeship I was looking for. Businesses will receive many applications so by having a pro-active attitude you will hopefully stand out from the crowd.