ADM Team at SERC Help Get Apprentices on Track

Natasha, one of three Apprenticeship Development Managers (ADM) at SERC, joined the College in 2018. She said, “I graduated from Ulster University in 2015 with a First-Class Honours in Social Policy. I worked for a couple of organisations, including the NOW Group, which helped me realise my passion for helping people achieve their potential.” 

“As an Apprentice Development Manager at SERC, I work as part of a team responsible for developing SERC’s apprenticeship offer, securing higher level apprentices (HLA) and apprenticeship enrolments, and building SERC’s profile amongst a range of employers.” 

“My job involves working with apprenticeship applicants - helping them to build their CV, undertake interview preparation and advise how to secure an employer in a chosen industry.  Although it is the student's responsibility to find an employer to support them through the apprenticeship programme, SERC works with thousands of employers, so we are often the first port of call for those employers who have apprenticeship positions.  It is our role to help match them with our apprenticeship applicants and arrange interviews.  Once an apprentice has an employer, we are here to guide and prepare them for the next steps in their career.”  

She added, “Connecting with one of the ADM team gives reassurance to the potential apprentice that they are doing all they can to find the job needed to secure an apprenticeship. The extra support with preparing a CV and guidance on how to speak to and approach employers can make all the difference to securing a coveted apprenticeship position.” 

“The apprenticeship route is a three-way partnership between the apprentice, SERC and of course the employer.  We work with employers in various ways, from joint recruitment campaigns to advertising apprenticeships, from gathering CV’s from our candidate pool each summer to developing new apprenticeships to support economic growth. We are always happy to meet with employers to discuss their business needs and how we can align our efforts to support them. Our events and activities - such as Northern Ireland Apprenticeship Week - give employers an opportunity to promote their vacancies and keep up to date with new and exciting apprenticeship opportunities at SERC.”   

“Natasha concluded, “My favourite part of my role at SERC is meeting new people and helping students, of all ages, discover the vast range of careers that are available to them in diverse sectors from accounting to administration from health and social care to culinary arts, mechatronic engineering to polymers and glazing, as well as connecting with our local businesses to help them grow their workforce.”  

Don’t forget to register for NI Apprenticeship Week events and activities at NI Apprenticeship Week 2022 - SERC   

Contact the apprenticeship development managers by email or telephone: 

For apprenticeships in Accounting, Culinary Arts and Childcare:

• Natasha Lennox, nlennox@serc.ac.uk or call 07971303412 

For apprenticeships in Mechatronics and Computing: 

• Andrea Foster, andreafoster@serc.ac.uk or call 07788215114 

For Construction and Health & Social Care: 

• David Gore, dgore@serc.ac.uk or call 07500947724