With National Apprenticeship Week returning as it does every year, it gives us, here at Gamma, an opportunity to celebrate the transformative impact of apprenticeships on our Gamma people, and our business as a whole. This year’s theme, “Skills for Life,” really resonates with us here at Gamma, where we are striving do everything we can to empower our colleagues – and, particularly in this case, encouraging them to grow and thrive through structured learning and professional development programmes.
A foundation for future success
Steve Baker-Wise, Early Careers Manager at Gamma, very kindly agreed to sit down for a chat about how the apprenticeships support the modern workplace. “National Apprenticeship Week is exciting; it is a great opportunity to shine a light on apprenticeships and their impact. Each year, the government sets a theme. I’m really pleased to say this year’s is ‘Skills for Life.’ I think it’s long overdue. I’m very passionate about the skills that people develop from apprenticeships and hopefully, reading this article today and hearing from our people over the course of this week will help you learn more about the benefits of our efforts here at Gamma – the skills gained, how that is making an impact for the learners, their teams and Gamma.”
The project management skills academy
Central to this vision is Gamma’s Project Management Skills Academy, a programme designed to equip employees with essential project management skills. As Steve notes, “The Project Management Skills Academy is part of our learning and development strategy to make sure our people are equipped with the skills for the evolving and changing world we live and work in”
The three main components of the academy are the apprenticeship, Gamma led workshops and the APM PMQ qualification. Describing its integration, Steve explains, “For us this is about layering the learning and really embedding the skills, the apprenticeship is a great way of learning project management skills, the workshops support our people to truly embed and contextiles those skills to Gamma and the APM PMQ is a globally recognised qualification giving our people confidence and validation in the level of their skills and competency.”
Evolving approaches to learning
The collective nature of the programme fosters camaraderie among participants. “Learners go through the process together,” Steve shares. “This builds bonds and cohesion as they tackle challenges as a team, sharing strengths and supporting each other through the experience. This is further building on their communication and teamwork skills, two hugely valuable skills.”
Personal growth and professional opportunities
For participants like Rocco Quinn (Project Manager) and Jolene Larter (Head of Billing), the programme represents a pathway to personal and professional growth. Reflecting on the challenge of balancing rigorous training with his role, Rocco says, “For me that was the challenge… I really wanted to be jumping in with both feet and attack the course as much as I could.” He adds, “It’s obviously a really big thing to have on your CV. Thanks to my chosen direction of travel, I’m looking towards senior project management… that kind of thing. It’s just going to lend itself to my career in so many ways. It will benefit me in terms of the way we work at Gamma. It will really lend itself to helping me become a better project manager.”
Rocco expands more on the practical benefits he has experienced. “It’s about more than just a qualification,” he says. “The way the programme is structured means I’m not just learning theory but actively applying these skills in the real world.”
Jolene feels similarly, highlighting the opportunity to showcase her capabilities within Gamma. “I want people to know what I’m capable of and what I’ve put my mind to and what I’ve been able to achieve alongside my day job. And I know that I can do it,” she says.
Jolene further shares, “I’ve had a lot of questions actually from other people at Gamma that are interested in what I’m learning and how it’s going, so I think they’re all keen to get involved in the future for sure.” She really underlines how the programme has boosted her confidence. “Knowing I can tackle something this challenging has really changed how I see myself. It’s made me more confident in my abilities and more willing to take on new challenges, that is a skill for life in itself”
Building a culture of learning
Gamma’s commitment to fostering a learning culture extends beyond individual achievements. Steve is keen to point out the importance of continuous improvement, saying, “We’ve committed to gaining the feedback of the learners, their managers, and stakeholders to assess the programme’s impact. If it meets our expectations, we’ll look expand to other essential business skills, creating future cohorts and broadening opportunities.”
Rocco highlights the difference this support has made in his experience. “In my previous job, there was no training, there was no courses… there’s your project, get it delivered, don’t care how you do it, just get it done. So, to have all this at Gamma… it’s just brilliant. It’s like, this is exactly what we need. This is what we want,” he says.
Jolene also sees the potential for this programme to inspire others across Gamma. “There’s so much interest already,” she says. “I think as more people see the results, we’ll have an even bigger appetite for initiatives like this.”
A transformative experience
Looking ahead, both Rocco and Jolene are optimistic about the skills they’re gaining and the opportunities they’ll unlock. “It’s all about improvement,” Rocco says. “These skills will benefit me in so many ways, helping me grow in my career and contribute more to Gamma.”
Jolene adds, “It’s not just about what this means for me, but how I can use these skills to make a bigger impact. I want to help drive better results, take on more responsibility, and really add value to the team.”
Steve concludes with a vision for the future: “This programme not only makes individuals more efficient but also benefits Gamma as a whole. It’s a fantastic way to bring people together and build essential skills.”
By prioritising apprenticeships and skill-building initiatives, Gamma is setting a standard for nurturing talent and empowering employees to achieve their full potential. The journey of Rocco, Jolene, and their peers is hopefully inspiring to you, and encourages you to think about this option for growth. It’s certainly something worth thinking about during National Apprenticeship Week.
Watch this space for future skills academies!