At Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce, we’re proud of our track record in supporting education and training initiatives at both a local and national level, helping to prepare young people to meet the needs of businesses today and into the future.
We’ve written recently, for example, about our role as joint Designated Lead in the rollout of the Government’s Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIP) scheme in the region. But we’ve also committed to supporting education and training within our own organisation through apprenticeships.
Below is the story of one such success: the rapid journey of a young woman from the local area from work experience newbie to official apprentice member of our team. And if this can work in our business, it can work in yours!
Community outreach with positive outcomes
Kiahna Mitchell initially came to us as a result of her Sixth Form college, Queen Elizabeth in Luton, turning the tables on us - in the nicest way possible!
Back in May, the students at the college, including Kiahna, assumed responsibility for organising hosting, and running one of our regular events, Connect Over Coffee. (This is another way we promote young people’s business education in the local community – by reaching out and involving them in the practical aspects of day-to-day business activities.)
The event was a great success (in fact, we christened it ‘the QE6 takeover’!), and Kiahna, inspired by the work she had done on it, struck up a conversation with us about events and marketing opportunities.
In July, she started a two-week work experience placement with us at the Chamber. Fast-forward a few months, and Kiahna has now embarked on her Business Administrator Level 3 apprenticeship, focusing on marketing and events, which, over a period of 21 months, combines study with valuable work in the heart of our team.
The value an apprenticeship delivers
Apprenticeships are a fusion of learning, experiencing, and – critically – actually doing, and Kiahna’s role is an excellent example of how this can work so well in practice.
From drawing up attendee lists, to communication and promotion through marketing email applications and newsletters, to physically setting up and breaking down on the day, Kiahna is guided through, but also entrusted with, many of the Chamber’s key event activities.
Her apprenticeship has already seen her involved in the planning and execution of several Chamber events, and our marketing presence at others, including further Connect Over Coffee meetings, Business Expo, and even this year’s SME Bedfordshire Business Awards – which, for the first time, was wholly organised and run by the Chamber.
Another interest the apprenticeship enables Kiahna to develop and refine is social media. As part of her work, she has learned how to combine graphic skills in packages like Canva with compelling posts to create campaigns that help increase the Chamber’s social reach, as well as build confidence before those all-important events.
Kiahna has also put her apprenticeship to good use setting up the Chamber’s Instagram account, giving us a new presence on this high-profile platform.
Kiahna the apprentice – in her own words
In a very short time Kiahna’s apprenticeship has also enabled her to gain real insight into the importance of the work the Chamber does, and of working as part of an engaged and committed team.
“Before the Chamber came to my college,” she says, “I didn't know anything about Chambers of Commerce, but now I’ve learned how Bedfordshire Chamber draws businesses closer together, and I want my work here to support that.”
And when it comes to her Chamber colleagues, she has quickly come to recognise their qualities – and aspire to the same. “Everyone here is so passionate about what they do, and about explaining its significance to me,” she enthuses, “and they’ve welcomed me 110%.”
“At the same time, they’ve also been really clear that if I need to take time out to complete college work, it’s not a problem.”
A young apprentice today, a professional who’ll make a real difference to a business tomorrow – this is why, at the Chamber, apprentices like Kiahna mean so much to us.
