Derby City Council Apprentice nominated for National Apprenticeships Award

Published: 6 September 2019

Derby City Council apprentice, Andrew Tang, has been nominated for the Advanced Apprenticeship of the Year award in the National Apprenticeships Awards.

The National Apprenticeship Awards, now in their 16th Year, showcase the diverse range of sectors engaged with apprenticeships and the success stories of those who have undertaken apprenticeships.

Andrew started his apprenticeship in L3 Business Administration with Derby City Council in September 2017. During his training, Andrew was responsible for the redevelopment, maintenance and promotion of the Derby Apprenticeship Hub. This included visiting schools to market apprenticeships to young people and leading on National Apprenticeship Week campaigns.

He has also supported the Employment and Skills team within the Council and worked closely with Derby and Derbyshire Skills and Employment Board (DS2EB), of which he is an administrator.

Prior to the apprenticeship, Andrew studied Coaching and Sport Science at Nottingham Trent University. After working as a volunteer football coach upon completing his degree, Andrew decided to look for full-time employment. After struggling to gain employment and applying for a variety of roles, Andrew started to look into apprenticeships.

When asked why he decided to apply for an apprenticeship at Derby City Council, Andrew said:

I applied because I knew an apprenticeship would provide me with new skills and employment simultaneously. I was fairly fresh out of the education system so this felt familiar to me but also gave me the opportunity to gain valuable work experience while learning. I chose the apprenticeship at Derby City Council as I felt that I could make a real difference to people through the role, which is very important to me when looking for a career path.

Since March 2019, Andrew has become full-time permanent employee at Derby City Council and is now working as an Employment and Skills Support Officer within the Economic Growth Service. In November 2018 he was also nominated as one of the top five apprentices for the D2N2 Public Service Sector Apprentice of the Year Award.

Councillor Evonne Williams, Cabinet member for Children and Young People said:

Apprenticeships, as they combine both work and study, can be ideal for those who are still interested in training but are looking to gain valuable work experience while doing so. Andrew’s experience is a prime example of how to maximise this potential and we’re delighted that he’s had his dedication and hard work recognised.

As advice for those who may be considering applying for apprenticeships, Andrew added:

I would suggest that you do as much research as possible and look into the wide variety of apprenticeships offered. The final bit of advice is quite simply: go for it! It’s the best thing I’ve done.

There are a range of apprenticeship opportunities available with Derby City Council, from business administration to teaching assistant roles. The positions come with many benefits such as support from the Apprentice Forum (led by Andrew) as well as greatly improved job prospects. Many former apprentices have gone on to gain successful employment within the City Council.

For more information on Derby City Council Apprenticeships and the range of opportunities available, visit our Apprenticeship Hub

Young people