In celebration of National Apprenticeship Week 2024, business improvement specialists BBI Services are highlighting the valuable contribution that apprenticeships have made to their team.

BBI drive to help major players in the built environment maximise performance, perfect their processes, and unleash their people’s potential, and have had three apprentices excel in their career development, Emma, Sharon, & Sammy!

Sharon Redshaw has worked at BBI Services for seven years in finance and has recently completed a level three Assistant Accountant apprenticeship. After finishing sixth form, Sammy King joined the team in the summer of 2021 as a Marketing Apprentice.

Sharon successfully completed her apprenticeship in 2023, and all her hard work was acknowledged by her Paragon Skills Tutor, who nominated Sharon for the AAT impact award. Sharon was also nominated for the Professional Learner of the Year 2023, of which she won!

Sammy also successfully completed her apprenticeship in 2023 and is continuing her career development by completing a Level 6 Diploma in Marketing in the evenings and weekends.

Sammy highlighted “At my sixth form, apprenticeships weren’t widely promoted and when I confirmed that I didn’t want to apply for university, I didn’t receive as much support as my peers,”

“Construction was also only promoted as a manual industry, focusing on bricklaying, carpentry and plumbing and I had no idea of the breadth of roles and opportunities it has to offer.

“My apprenticeship was really the best of both worlds and created endless opportunities throughout my 2 years. I gained practical work experience in a real office environment and developed my professional skills with clients, partners, and colleagues, as well as visiting projects we are working on.”

Supporting apprenticeships isn’t a new venture for BBI Services – it’s something the organisation has been involved in before. Emma Hope, PA and Office Manager at BBI, completed a level three business administrator apprenticeship in 2021 and achieved a distinction. Emma said: “This was the first apprenticeship I’ve ever done, and I enjoyed it so much that I’ve been encouraging other members of the BBI team to consider doing one.

“I think there’s a stigma with apprenticeships that they’re only suitable for school leavers, but that’s not the case. They provide everybody with a great opportunity to learn and develop while working full time.”

BBI Services CEO Mark Worrall comments: “I’m delighted by the amazing contribution our apprentices make, and believe apprenticeships are crucial both for introducing new people into the industry, and for further developing the talent we already have.

“I’m really proud of everything Sharon, Sammy and Emma have achieved, highlighting the valuable contribution that apprenticeships have on employees both professionally and personally.”