How to become an apprentice

A word from our CEO, Amo Singh:

“We have a thriving apprenticeship programme here at A.D., and it’s something we are incredibly proud of. 

We understand the power of mentorship and how the right experience can create a path towards a bright, successful future. 

It’s a real joy to offer a young person an opportunity, watch them grow in confidence and experience, and go on to build incredible careers. 

We’re proud to say that 20% of our employees are successful graduates of our apprenticeship programme, and we look forward to welcoming more people through the doors of our A.D. Academy.”

Deciding whether an apprenticeship is right for you

If you’re unsure whether further education is for you or if you want to start working straight after school, why not consider an apprenticeship? 

Apprenticeships are great because they’re designed to help people enter the world of work and essentially earn while they learn. 

You get mentorship and guidance whilst developing new skills and getting a head start on your career. 

Apprenticeships offer a great balance between academic learning and practical experience, with most of your time being spent gaining ‘hands-on’ experience in the real world. 

The best way to research whether an apprenticeship would be the right option for you is to learn from people who have gone through the process and are now thriving in their new careers. So, to help you, we sat down with our brilliant apprentices and apprenticeship graduates to understand how they found an apprenticeship programme, what the apprenticeship experience was like and how they think the experience will shape their career… 

Meet our A.D. Alumni

How did you discover this opportunity to join A.D.? 

“We all had quite similar experiences, didn’t we? I was searching online for apprenticeship opportunities and came across an apprenticeship agency that could help secure opportunities and interviews,” says Adam.

“Yeah – I got a call from 360 Apprenticeships after applying online and took it from there,” adds Nathan. 

 “I really valued the help the apprenticeship agency gave me,” says Mark “I wasn’t 100% sure on the sector I wanted to go into, but I knew I wanted to work in an office, and this lined up perfectly. I hadn’t heard of the industry before, so I don’t know how I would’ve found the job at the time if it wasn’t for the agency.” 

What was the apprenticeship interview process like for you?

Nathan says, “The Interview process was good; it gave me a good insight into how A.D. worked and where I would be able to help during my apprenticeship.”

Mark and Henri also had positive experiences, with the managers taking time to get to know them a bit more and understand their motivation, aspirations, skills, hobbies and willingness to learn… “I had one interview with the commercial manager,” says Mark. “As we both liked football, it made me feel more comfortable and helped to settle my nerves – it was a good way to break the ice. 

“He set some mini tasks to see how I work, and this led on to a second interview with Nick Green, our Sales Director. Nick was really helpful; he’d been in a similar situation when he was my age and had done an apprenticeship, so he gave me more insight into what to expect.”  

What were you doing before applying for an apprenticeship? 

Adam: I was working part-time at Iceland after finishing college. 

Mark: I was working in a retail store as a sales assistant

Nathan: I was a student at college

Henri: I was studying for my A Levels at Sixth Form

Why did you choose an apprenticeship over going to university?

Adam says, “I couldn’t find a course I wanted to do at university, so I decided to look for an apprenticeship where I could earn and learn instead.”

Whereas Mark’s experience was slightly different, “I wasn’t very academic at school, and I wanted to ease into the working world. So an apprenticeship seemed like a perfect fit to trial working life. 

“Plus, as I wasn’t sure what I wanted to go into, it seemed a waste of time and money to go to University and be paying off debt for a degree I would probably not have needed!” 

Henri adds, “I knew university was never for me, I wanted to learn real work skills and gain experience rather than study for exams.”

What does a typical day as an apprentice look like for you? 

As the most experienced, having been with the company for 10 years, Adam’s role as Project Executive is very involved. “I oversee projects from their initial development stage all the way through to delivery. I also get involved in many different areas of the business.”

Whilst Mark, Nathan and Henri support the entire team by helping customers with merchandise requests, processing orders, quoting, and problem-solving. 

How do you divide your time between hands-on learning and classroom learning?

We have a balanced approach here at A.D, with the majority of work being hands-on, so our team can get valuable real-world experience, whilst also creating space and time for academic learning. 

Henri, the latest member to come through our Academy, says, “The majority of time was spent hands-on. I had a training diary – we had to complete at least 6 hours a week learning new skills. We had 1 lesson a week and then some coursework to complete during working hours.”

What surprised you most about being an apprentice?

The team was unanimous in what surprised them about joining A.D. as an apprentice, with key moments including: 

• They felt welcome
• They quickly became part of a team 
• They were trusted and given real responsibilities very early on
• They felt valued and encouraged to take ownership of their development 
• They could see the impact of their work and understand their contribution 
• They all felt incredibly supported by their mentor and other senior team members

What do you enjoy most about your apprenticeship position? 

The team decided on the top-5 most enjoyable aspects of their A.D. Apprenticeship being: 

1. Being able to earn and learn 
2. Building a strong work ethic
3. Developing new skills and gaining knowledge in a real-world setting 
4. Working with others and learning from more senior team members 
5. Feeling a sense of pride and accomplishment

What advice would you give to someone thinking about doing an apprenticeship?

Nathan: “I would tell them to go for it. An apprenticeship is a great way to learn new skills, gain real-world experience, and build confidence while earning.”

Mark: “Be ready to work and have the same work ethic as the team or aim to be better. When I joined, I came with my schoolboy approach, which was very laid back – this quickly changed! As an apprentice or for anybody learning the business, you should aim to work harder than the people who can do the job to catch up and even aim to become better!

“Also, realise the small tasks matter. For example, if somebody asks you to send a parcel, don’t see it as an inconvenience. That parcel could be a sample for a huge order. And remember, everybody has done the same role before and recognise that the ‘smaller tasks’ are part of the development process!”

Henri: “Be open to learning, ask lots of questions and take every opportunity to gain experience.”

Adam: “Whilst a great opportunity, you will need a willingness to learn. An apprenticeship is just the start of what can be an excellent career. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and show initiative – most importantly, be patient with yourself!

What skills have you learned? 

Adam: “Instead of writing a huge list, I will state the three main skills which I have further developed, including organisation, teamwork and adaptability.

Henri: “I have learned practical industry skills, teamwork, communication and problem-solving.”

Mark: “I have become more professional, my e-mails are a lot more formal, and I am more professional and confident on the phone. I have also learnt life skills such as making coffee, tea and cooking.

“During my apprenticeship, I have developed a range of skills, including communication, teamwork, and time management. I’ve also improved my ability to solve problems, adapt to new tasks, and work more independently while maintaining a professional approach.”

What are your hopes for the future? 

Nathan says, “I want to keep developing and become a better account manager”. Mark agreed, saying, “I want to keep growing and building up higher within the company,” with Henri adding, “Same, I want to keep learning about more areas of the company.”

Adam concludes, “I want to continue to have a career that is meaningful to myself, whilst continuing to develop my own skills and increasing my knowledge. I want to further increase the level of responsibility I have in the business and the trust my colleagues have in me, so I can progress and earn more. 

The final word from our A.D. Apprenticeship Mentor…

Kiran plays an important role in supporting all apprentices and is the central mentor for the team, ensuring they get all the help and support they need to grow in their careers…

“Having been closely involved in the process and working alongside the apprentices throughout their development, I have had the opportunity to observe their progress, engagement, and approach to learning.

“The apprentices have demonstrated a positive attitude toward learning and development. They have shown a willingness to ask questions, seek clarification, and actively engage with all aspects of their training and job. This openness has contributed to steady improvement in their confidence and ability to apply new skills in real working situations.

“They have effectively shown good teamwork and communication skills with colleagues throughout the business. 

“Overall, it has been encouraging to see the progress made across the group. With continued support, mentoring, and practical experience, the apprentices have become highly capable and valuable team members. It’s a joy to support them throughout this journey – they’re a huge part of the team.”

How to join the A.D. Apprenticeship Academy 

If you’re interested in becoming an apprentice, you must be 16 or older and not be in full-time education. 

There are lots of helpful resources online, such as the Government’s apprentice website, your college or school may be able to help you find opportunities, or you could speak with specialist apprenticeship agencies. You could also speak to businesses directly to see if they have any opportunities. 

We’re always on the lookout for great people, so if you’d like to enquire about an apprenticeship with A.D., drop a message to enquiries@adbrandedsolutions.com