Graham + Sibbald are delighted to have enrolled two of their Administrative Assistant’s to the firms Graduate Apprenticeship Programme.
Erin Russell (Glasgow) and Katie Tait (Edinburgh) will both be taking on the new title of ‘Student Surveyor’ as they move from the administrative to professional side of the business in late 2020.
Working in Partnership with Edinburgh Napier University, Erin and Katie were accepted on to the four-year Graduate Apprenticeship BSc (Hons) course. This consists of distance learning via an online platform but includes set block release periods three times per annum, offering the opportunity to work alongside study.
Rhona Smith, Employer Liaison & Student Recruitment Manager at Napier, said: “Graduate Apprenticeships are a fantastic way for employees to gain practical experience and academic knowledge, whilst gaining an internationally recognised qualification through combining work-based learning and university attendance. We look forward to our continued partnership with Graham + Sibbald.”
Erin joined Graham + Sibbald in early 2016 as a school leaver, providing admin support across a number of departments within the firms Glasgow office. She was put through a Modern Apprenticeship (MA) with Microcom Training which enables staff to build on key IT and administrative skills and was awarded an SVQ Level 3 in Business and Administration for her efforts.
She commented, “A Modern Apprenticeship is a great place to start for a school leaver that may not be as confident in their typing or communication skills. I enjoyed training towards my MA as it really helped me to perfect the skills I had already learned while I was at school. I now look forward to taking this next step to begin my professional career with Graham + Sibbald.”
Katie joined Graham + Sibbald in 2016 as an Administrative Assistant working within the Edinburgh Residential department. A fast learner, she later moved to join the Commercial Administrative team in 2019 where she gained an interest in Commercial Agency and was drawn to the Graduate Apprenticeship Programme.
In her new Student Surveyor role, Katie is also assisting Graham + Sibbald’s dedicated Hotel + Leisure team. This specialist experience will give her a strategic advantage in her studies, learning sales negotiation skills from the team who boast over 40+ years’ experience across the UK.
She commented, “I’m really looking forward to moving from an administrative role to a professional role within Graham + Sibbald. This opportunity to undertake a Graduate Apprenticeship and work alongside studying means that I can put in to practice my studies in real life scenarios, while asking questions to my senior and qualified colleagues.”
Les McAndrew, Senior Partner at Graham + Sibbald, said: “We have always been committed to providing staff with opportunities for growth and development at every stage of their career. We are delighted to offer Erin and Katie the opportunity to further their education and make the switch to join the professional side of our business. They are both dedicated and hardworking and show great promise. I look forward to seeing how they progress.”
