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I started my Business Administration apprenticeship in May 2025. Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to experience lots of different areas of the organisation while completing my qualification alongside my day-to-day role. I’ve been involved in a wide variety of tasks and projects, which has given me a much broader understanding of how different parts of Trent & Dove work together.

I chose Trent & Dove because housing has always been something I’ve been interested in. Both of my parents work in housing, so I’ve grown up hearing about the difference the sector can make to people and communities. I already knew Trent & Dove had a really good reputation locally, and it felt like somewhere I could start my own career, learn from experienced people and hopefully build a future within the organisation.

I’ve learnt so much, not only about business administration and housing, but also skills that I’ll be able to use throughout my career. My communication and organisational skills have developed massively, and I’ve learnt how to adapt the way I work depending on the task or the people I’m working with.

One of the biggest things for me has been presenting in front of wider audiences. This was definitely outside my comfort zone at first, but having opportunities to do it has helped strengthen my confidence and shown me that I’m capable of things that I might previously have been nervous about. I’ve also learnt the importance of being professional, managing my time, working independently and being willing to ask questions and learn from other people.

I’ve been really lucky with the support I’ve received throughout my apprenticeship. I’ve worked alongside Customer Services, Compliance and Health & Safety, Tenancy Services, Tenancy Sustainment, Lettings and Business Improvement, which has meant meeting and learning from so many different people across Trent & Dove.

Everyone has been really welcoming and willing to take the time to explain things, involve me in their work and give me opportunities to try things for myself. That support has made it much easier to step outside my comfort zone because I’ve known there are always people around me who I can go to for advice.

What I’ve enjoyed most is the variety. No two parts of my apprenticeship have felt exactly the same, and I’ve had opportunities that I probably wouldn’t have experienced if I had gone straight into one specific role. I’ve enjoyed meeting different people, getting involved in different areas of the business and being given opportunities to challenge myself. It’s made the apprenticeship really interesting and helped me discover which parts of housing I enjoy most.

I think the biggest thing I’ve learnt about myself is that I’m more capable than I sometimes give myself credit for. There have been things during my apprenticeship, particularly presenting and speaking in front of wider audiences, that have pushed me outside of my comfort zone. Previously I might have doubted myself, but doing those things has really strengthened my confidence.

I’ve also learnt that I really enjoy challenging myself, meeting new people and taking on new experiences. Getting a distinction in my EPA has made me particularly proud because it’s shown me how much I’ve developed since I started.

I think everyone at Trent & Dove knows by now that my goal is to become a Housing Officer! That’s something I’ve wanted to work towards for a long time, and completing my apprenticeship has made me even more certain that housing is where I want to build my career. For now, I want to keep learning, gaining experience and taking opportunities that will help me work towards that goal.

I’d say go for it and make the most of every opportunity you’re given. An apprenticeship isn’t just about getting the qualification at the end. You get real workplace experience, meet so many different people and develop skills that you might not expect to gain when you first start.

I’d also say don’t be afraid of doing things that make you nervous. Some of the things that have pushed me furthest outside my comfort zone have ended up being the things that have helped me develop the most.