Emma proves '˜Apprenticeships Work' after 20 years of working for council - as organisations nationwide mark National Apprenticeship Week

Bosses at Boston Borough Council are promoting the authority’s apprenticeships as a ‘great way to begin building a career’ - a message which comes as many organisations up and down the country celebrate National Apprenticeship Week this week (March 5-9)

Emma Staff, the council’s graphics expert and marketing and communications officer, began working for the council in 1997 when she joined as a Youth Training Apprentice in the personnel section.

Following her apprenticeship, the former Haven High School and Boston College student worked her way up the ranks, showing an early talent for design and soon found herself a member of the two-strong graphics team, handling most of the council’s computerised design and production work for a range of information leaflets, pamphlets and brochures.

Then Emma reinforced the communications team, formalising some of the work she had previously been doing through the graphics unit and taking on more responsibility for proactively promoting the council and the borough and reactively dealing with media inquiries from around the world and across the whole range of council services.

Her design strengths and familiarity with computer programs sees her, on a daily basis, helping keep the council’s website, Facebook and Twitter channels up to date as well as produce the Boston Bulletin.

Emma, who has a daughter and a son and was born and bred in Boston, was full of praise for how her apprenticeship helped her get where she is now.

She said: “I never imagined, when I first joined the council, that there would be so much opportunity and so much variety.

“If you’d told me than that I’d be dealing with journalists from the likes of The Sun, Daily Mirror, Daily Mail, the BBC and ITV, I wouldn’t have believed you.

“I love having freedom to design and I have learned so much. Every day is different, and the time flies by. You have a real feeling of pride in your work when you see something you have written, taken the photograph for, designed and seen through all the production processes being taken away and of use to someone.

“People would be surprised at the breadth of work done at the council - everything from bin collections to high finance. Working at Boston Borough Council has given me some tremendous opportunities and amazing experiences.”

Bosses at Boston Borough Council are promoting the authority’s apprenticeships as a ‘great way to begin building a career’ and says the council’s apprenticeship scheme has a proven track record of apprentices gaining qualifications and finding permanent positions with the authority.

The theme for this year’s National Apprenticeship Week is ‘Apprenticeships Work’.

Nicole Hayes, 20, joined the council as a People Services Apprentice, in September, 2016. The following May she became an Accounting Apprentice and gained her Level 2 Business Admin and her AAT Level 3.

She said: “I was first attracted to an apprenticeship at the council after hearing from other employees of the potential opportunities within local government.”

Nicole has previously been a competitive gymnast and gymnastics coach. She was educated at University Academy Holbeach, where she gained a Btec Level 3 Extended Diploma Sport and her A Level Maths.

For more from some of the council’s apprentices and further information visit www.boston.gov.uk

To see the current apprenticeships available - see http://jobs.boston.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=13281