National Apprenticeship Week – Meet Courtney McNeil
Courtney McNeil joined VolkerStevin in 2022 as a trainee corporate communications coordinator, she is currently undertaking a Public Relations and Communications Assistant level 4 qualification. Courtney has just begun her end point assessment and is due to complete her apprenticeship within the next few months. We spoke to Courtney to find out more about her apprenticeship and the process of her end point assessment.
Why did you choose to do an apprenticeship?
I originally applied for university after I finished college and was accepted onto a marketing course at Nottingham Trent University, however after much consideration I decided that university was not the route I wanted to take. I took a year out of education to decide what I wanted to do next, during this time I spent a lot of time researching apprenticeships as this wasn’t an option that was widely presented to me during my education. I felt doing an apprenticeship aligned more with my future goals, as it would give me the opportunity to earn an income whilst getting experience within the workplace and working towards a qualification.
What are some of your daily tasks as an apprentice corporate communications coordinator?
As an apprentice I have a wide range of tasks such as working on curating and sharing content across several platforms, writing articles, design work, event planning and much more. At VolkerStevin I have had the opportunity to work on all aspects of communications both internal and external, getting such a well-rounded experience has really helped me to progress within my role.
How have you found the process of your end point assessment?
I have just begun my end point assessment where I am implementing a Public Relations project at VolkerStevin, I must produce a project report at the end of my campaign which I will present to my accessor. I have found the process very smooth so far. Throughout my apprenticeship I have had the chance to work on several campaigns which have given me the experience and confidence I needed to lead on my own project. My team have also been extremely supportive of me during my apprenticeship and have provided me with a lot of guidance and knowledge.
What are the main benefits of an apprenticeship?
The main benefit for me is that I have had the opportunity to gain work experience within my chosen field, this is something many full-time university students do not get to experience until after they have graduated. I feel I have learnt so much in only two years and getting to work with colleagues who have so much experience to share is another great benefit!
Once you have completed your apprenticeship what would you like to do next?
Once I have completed my level 4 qualification, I am looking to undertake a level 7 qualification in Public Relations. I want to take the opportunity to develop my knowledge and skills as much as possible and I have been incredibly lucky that VolkerStevin has been so supportive of this.
