Many of our apprentices go on to secure full time employment. One of these is Sam Pika. Sam started almost 13 years ago on The School Leavers scheme and now works Responsive Repairs Unit within Communities, Housing & Customer Services. Talking about why she applied for an apprenticeship with us, Sam said "I was unsure which career path I wanted to take so arranged a meeting with a careers advisor who suggested that I apply for the apprenticeship which was funded by Cardiff Council. The apprenticeship also included an NVQ in Business Administration/ Customer Service, and the idea of studying whilst working also encouraged me to apply."

"The apprenticeship was much more varied than I expected. I suppose I expected to be completing basic office tasks within one department. I actually found myself working across various service areas and each one was completely different to the last. For example I started working in Culture, Leisure and Parks at Eastern Leisure Centre which involved serving customers on reception; and later found myself arranging meetings with Councillors whilst working within Scrutiny Services, gaining valuable experience from each one."

Sam also added "The apprenticeship provided a stepping stone that helped me transition from full-time education to full time work. I built confidence and learned how to build good working relationships with the people around me. The many people who I met along the way also helped to guide and mentor me when it came to applying for permanent roles within Cardiff Council. I am very grateful for the opportunity I was provided with!"

If you're on an apprenticeship or know an apprentice, we'd love to hear about your experience #NAW2018