Hannah and Ambreen.


health, even the smallest change has been incredibly­fulfilling.


Hannah: Being an apprentice in librar- ies, I found it rewarding to be able to help those in my community. Being at school and college I hadn’t had the chance to be part of the community, so this role not only enabled me to help others, but al- lowed me to learn more about the world around me and gain those life skills and social skills.


And what has been the most chal- lenging aspect? Hannah: I think the most challenging part of the apprenticeship was adapting to a working environment. I had spent so much time studying at school and college that I hadn’t really been out into the big wide world. To suddenly be working in a library, it felt quite a jump, an exciting jump of course, but it felt like a really big change!


Ambreen: The most challenging aspect for myself (as I have been told often) has been­trying­to­curb­the­amount­of­stuff­I­ get involved in. I have found it hard not to throw myself into everything and you will­often­find­I­am­involved­with­most­ things. When you want to be a part of change­everywhere­it’s­difficult­to­pick­ and choose projects.


July-August 2022


Can you talk us through the support you received during your apprentice- ship? Both within the library service and the college. Ambreen: The biggest support for myself has come from all the colleagues I have worked alongside. People who had no investment in my apprenticeship continu- ously­offered­a­helping­hand­when­I­have­


been­unsure­or­needed­clarification­on­ issues. I was also assigned my own manager who helped me through my college work alongside my college tutor. It helped that my college tutor was very understanding about my neurodivergency and made any accommodations I needed (for example recording all our interactions so it was easier for me to follow instructions).


Hannah: During my apprenticeship I had support from my Apprentice Co-ordinator, who manages all the apprentices within Kirklees. I also had a manager who sup- ported me by attending our college one-to- ones and helped ensure I was on track with my assignments and such. I then had a col- lege tutor who monitored my progress to ensure I was meeting all the requirements in the apprenticeship criteria. I have also had­tremendous­support­from­all­the­staff­ at Kirklees Libraries who have provided me­with­loads­of­advice­and­confidence­for­ me to succeed.


Hannah the elf.


How was that experience of “learning on the job”? Did it feel like you could easily put new skills and knowledge into practice in the workplace? Hannah: The college assignments were based­on­tasks­that­library­staff­would­ undertake as part of their role. College helped to guide us through what needed to


INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL DIGITAL 33


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