Having been in post for less than a year and having already picked up several titles and awards, The University of Oxford’s Senior Appointments and Apprenticeship Manager, Helen Johnson, is keen to continue the University’s streak of success surrounding apprenticeships – but agrees there is still more that can be done. We asked Helen about the University’s apprenticeship journey, following their win as Large Employer of the Year at last year’s Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards.
Why do you think it is so important for the university that you take on apprentices and support other apprenticeship schemes locally?
We take on both new entrant apprentices and use apprenticeships to upskill our existing staff to develop their career.
We understand that University is not suited to everyone and there are some amazing apprenticeship opportunities out there for those who want to learn and work.
Apprenticeships offer a great opportunity to do partnership work with other organisations and we’re really keen to promote our successes through our networks, but also support our local community through our distribution of levy funds by transferring our excess funds so that they can go on to provide amazing apprenticeship opportunities locally.
Do you think offering apprenticeships will continue as a priority for the university?
Definitely. In June 2021 we had our apprenticeship strategy agreed by the university, so whilst up until then the apprenticeship programme had developed and grown over the years, we now have a concrete plan of what we aim to do in terms of apprenticeships.
We have put a lot of our focus on what the strategy looks like and now on how we implement this, so it is an exciting time.
You’ve spoken about why apprenticeships are so valuable and how for school leavers in particular the advantages differ to a more traditional university route; do you wish you had done an apprenticeship?
At school, I remember apprenticeships weren’t really on the agenda and I think that plays a big part in why I’m so keen to engage schools within my role and take on any external ambassador work. I know that for me personally, if I could get to where I am now having done an apprenticeship, and gaining all the experience that comes alongside that, I would have – 100%.
Do you think maybe apprenticeships are quite misunderstood?
Yes, and that’s played a really big part in our apprenticeship journey at the university, it can sometimes be a challenge internally to encourage existing staff to undertake an apprenticeship and for managers to understand this is a route to help develop their teams.
I think externally there still seems to be some misunderstanding of apprenticeships – understandably schools see grades and the amount of successful university applicants they produce as ‘success’ and unless we change how schools are ranked and look to redefine what this looks like, it’s hard to break barriers like these. We can definitely try and change this through the promotion of apprenticeship opportunities, but there is still a huge amount of work to be done – we need to look at where are barriers, why is there this lack of understanding, and where the root cause of prejudice against apprenticeships lies before the job is ‘done’ promoting apprenticeships.
You’ve taken over as Chair of the Thames Valley Young Apprentice Ambassador Network (a community that highlights and promotes apprenticeships by encouraging apprentices to share their stories) – what made you want to take on this role?
Apprenticeships are an area in which I am personally and professionally very passionate – whilst obviously I want to play a role in promoting some of the great apprenticeship opportunities out there, this was also really important to my own development. Having the chance to be a voice on such an important subject is something I am really passionate about.
We’ve seen that you are really passionate about apprenticeships - what made you decide to enter the Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards?
When I came into the role in 2020, some great work had been done in terms of apprenticeships – but as a wider organisation we hadn't really promoted ourselves as an apprenticeship employer. I feel like we’re now headed in a really positive direction since our apprenticeships strategy was agreed, so as the largest employer in the county, we feel there is an opportunity to be a positive voice for apprenticeships in Oxfordshire.
The work of OxLEP Skills and the awards themselves are key to recognising some of the great work surrounding apprenticeships that is going on in the county and acting as a focal point for the aspirations of employers. We’re just starting out on our apprenticeships journey, but we’re doing our best to offer and promote these opportunities, so it felt like a good initiative to get involved in and to support the direction in which we’re headed.
How did it feel to win?
I honestly didn’t realise we’d won! It really is a fantastic achievement - but it came as a total shock! Just to be involved and to have some of our amazing apprentices involved and Teya (Teya Agnese, Apprentice Clinical Trials Officer and last year’s Apprentice of the Year winner) presenting was enough! To have that recognition of the work we’ve done feels amazing and it’s a real credit to the work that’s been done previously - by my predecessor and our former apprentices.
What would you say to anyone thinking of entering the awards?
Why wouldn’t you? Being a contender in the awards isn’t about the winning, it’s about feeling like you are part of something bigger and gaining that recognition that you’re doing a great job on your apprenticeship journey. It’s a brilliant way of highlighting what you are doing and to have your time in the limelight and it really does open up new opportunities. Since our win I personally have had so many more opportunities come my way and have been asked to be involved in so many different initiatives, sitting on panels etc. It’s also a great way of building relationships and getting people and organisations to work together on something that both parties play a critical role in. Basically, apply!
Follow the South East Young Apprentice Ambassador Network on Twitter (@SouthEastYAAN) and search ‘South East Apprenticeship Ambassador Network (SEAAN)’ on LinkedIn.
Find out more about the South East Apprenticeship Ambassador Network
Find out more about University of Oxford Apprenticeships
Entries to this year's Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards close at midnight on Monday 14 February, coinciding with the end of this year's National Apprenticeship Week.
Find out more and enter the Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards 2022
